Lawyers representing Jeremy Bamber, who is serving a whole life sentence for killing five members of his family in 1985, will ask the high court to review the refusal of the Crown Prosecution Service to disclose evidence they believe could undermine his conviction.
They say key material in the case was made available to an author behind an ITV drama about the killings that was withheld from his legal team, the Guardian reports.
Carol Ann Lee, who penned the book the miniseries White House Farm was based upon, posted an image on social media earlier this year of documents provided to her by Essex Police, not seen by the defence, as part of her research.
Carol Ann Lee, pictured, who penned the book the miniseries White House Farm was based upon, posted an image on social media earlier this year of documents provided to her by Essex Police, but not to the defence, as part of her research
The author posted several images on social media of her work on the book (above) including one of pages provided to her by Essex Police, but not to the defence, as part of her research
White House Farm at Tolleshunt D’Arcy, near Maldon, in Essex, pictured, where Bamber is alleged to have shot dead his mother, father, sister and twin nephews in August 1985
In an Instagram post which has since been deleted after a complaint from Bamber’s representatives, she wrote: ‘It was interesting to see and read all the original material.’
The numbered documents taken from Holmes boxes (an administrative system introduced in 1985 to support major investigations) include files numbered 75/13 and 75/15, which Bamber says he has never seen.
After Bamber’s legal team complained to the CPS the Instagram post was deleted.
Bamber has spent years denying involvement in the 1985 murders when his sister Sheila Caffell, her two young sons and Bamber’s adoptive parents June and Nevill Bamber were found shot dead at White House Farm at Tolleshunt D’Arcy, in Essex in 1985.
Bamber, 59, (pictured in 1986 left and Freddie Fox playing him in the ITV drama right) is serving a whole-life prison sentence for the 1985 murders of his sister Sheila Caffell, 26, her twin boys Nicholas and Daniel, both six, and his parents Nevill and June, both 61
Jeremy Bamber and girlfriend Julie Mugford at the funeral of three of his family members. after the funeral Bamber’s former teacher called police and said he had been acting
Bamber is seen above bowing his head as the coffins of Nevill and June Bamber, and Sheila are carried
Now the 59-year-old is confident certain papers from Holmes boxes – an filing system rolled out at the time to support major probes – have not been disclosed as they are all numbered.
Lee’s post included pictures of documents numbered 75/13 and 75/15, which Bamber claims to have never seen, the Guardian says.
Tomorrow’s hearing in Leeds comes after a high court judge refused to take the CPS’ decision not to share material with the defence to a judicial review.
Jeremy Bamber’s sister Sheila, and her children Daniel and Nicholas, pictured together, were all killed in the massacre
Bamber is pictured left being escorted by police in connection to the murder case in 1985. His sister (right) was found shot dead by police after they were called to her farmhouse
However, the case will be fully reconsidered, supported by oral submissions by Bamber’s legal team, according to the newspaper.
Mark Newby, a solicitor advocate at Quality Solicitors Jordans, which represents him, said the row ‘raises the question of whether a work of fiction is more important than justice’.
Bamber, speaking from Wakefield prison, told the Guardian: ‘It is disgusting that a third party was provided with documents and sensitive photographs when Essex police and the CPS have been unwilling to hand over material to our own forensic experts to prove that two silencers were recovered from the scene.
Freddie Fox starred as Jeremy Bamber, pictured, in the ITV drama White House Farm earlier this year
Bamber’s lawyers say some documents were never seen by the jury – and asked ITV to postpone the drama, pictured, believing the new evidence could prove his innocence
‘Despite court orders being in place for them to make full disclosure to us, which they deliberately chose to ignore, when Carol Ann Lee requested material she was given it without a second thought. Where is my justice?’
A spokesperson for Essex police said: ‘We are aware of the claim made by Jeremy Bamber and can confirm that this matter forms part of an ongoing judicial review. As this matter is therefore the subject of a forthcoming legal hearing it would not be appropriate for us to comment further.’
The CPS declined to comment.