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Writer's expertise could free more prisoners

Investigative journalist Don Hale has become involved in several high-profile cases as a direct result of his success in securing Stephen Downing’s freedom from prison after he was wrongly locked up for 27 years.

Don, former editor of the Matlock Mercury, has been asked to look into the case of Barry George, the man convicted of murdering TV journalist Jill Dando.

Preliminary inquiries have already produced what Don calls “exciting new evidence” that might counter the charges at his appeal this week.

He is also acting as a consultant in the case of a security guard jailed for 14 years for his part in a £6m robbery in Salford.

Graham Huckerby was sentenced in April but Don believes he has been made a scapegoat, and is helping the family prepare grounds for appeal.

He said: “In the first couple of weeks I have already found clear evidence to support his claims of innocence with several new witnesses, fresh evidence to confirm details of his own banking arrangements and medical evidence to show he was suffering from post-traumatic stress at the time of the incident, after witnessing the stabbing of a colleague in a previous attack some months before.”

Don is expecting the case to be referred for appeal in around six weeks.

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