07/09/07 - Second review of gang murder
Echo

A fresh bid is to be launched to free two men convicted of a notorious triple murder in Essex. Jack Whomes, 46, and Great Bentley man Michael Steele, 63 - who are serving life sentences - have always denied murdering three drug dealers who were found shot dead in a Range Rover in December 1995.

The mens' convictions are to be looked at for a second time by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), an independent public body set up to investigate possible miscarriages of justice as a result of new evidence, with a view to again referring their case back to the Court of Appeal.

The development coincides with the premiere of a new film chronicling the rise of Carlton Leach, a key member of the Essex gangs, who saw his three pals Pat Tate, Tony Tucker and Craig Rolfe wiped out in the shotgun slaying on an isolated farm track in Rettendon. Both Whomes, a former Stowmarket bouncer, and Steele's characters are featured in the film, Rise of the Footsoldier.

The men had their case referred back to the Court of Appeal in March last year by the CCRC, but the judges upheld the convictions, despite new evidence that appeared to undermine the credibility of their alleged getaway driver, supergrass Darren Nicholls.

An application to the CCRC has already been received on behalf of Whomes and now Steele's solicitor, Chris Bowen, has confirmed a similar application will be handed in on behalf of his client "shortly". It is not known how long it will take before a decision is made whether or not to refer the case back to the Court of Appeal.