07/09/07 - New Range Rover murder case review
Echo

THE conviction of a man jailed for the Rettendon Range Rover murders is to be reviewed by an independent public body which investigates miscarriages of justice.

The Criminal Cases Review Commission will examine the conviction of Jack Whomes, 46, of Brockford, Suffolk, who was jailed alongside Michael Steele for the murder of drug barons Tony Tucker, 38, Pat Tate, 36, and Craig Rolfe, 26, in December 2005. Whomes and Steele, 65, of Great Bentley, were jailed after a trial at the Old Bailey in 1998. Both denied murder.

This will be the commission's second review of the case. An appeal failed last year. Whomes's brother, John, said the family was confident of success because new evidence had emerged. He said: "We know this time we will win and are overwhelmed it is being considered again." Mr Whomes refused to divulge the exact nature of the new evidence, but said it related to more mobile phone evidence and the way investigating officers handled the case.

He added: "After the last appeal failed, Jack said the Criminal Cases Review Commission let him down by not investigating properly. "He sent hundreds of letters telling it new areas to look at and it seems it has decided to look at some of it."

Whomes's mother, Pam, added: "Jack has always maintained his innocence and is delighted the CCRC has taken it upon itself to look at his case again." A spokesman for the commission said the body had yet to decide whether to refer the case to the Court of Appeal.

Essex Police spokesman Nishan Wijeratne said: "The CCRC is duty-bound to appoint a new caseworker, as Jack Whomes has made an application for leave to appeal. "We believe there is no new evidence."

The notorious murders have now inspired two films: Essex Boys, starring Sean Bean, and Rise Of The Footsoldier, about the victim's criminal associate Carlton Leach, which was released in cinemas nationwide on Friday.