Freed After 38 Years: Peter Sullivan's Wrongful Murder Conviction Overturned by DNA
Peter Sullivan has been freed after spending 38 years in prison for a murder he did not commit. His conviction for the 1986 killing of Diane Sindall in Birkenhead was overturned last year following new DNA evidence. Sullivan had always insisted on his innocence, even after a forced confession led to his imprisonment in 1987.
Diane Sindall, a 22-year-old woman, was violently attacked and killed while walking to a petrol station in Birkenhead. Her car had broken down, leaving her vulnerable on the night of the crime. Police initially focused on Sullivan, a local man with no prior record of sexual violence, despite his protests.
Sullivan was convicted in 1987 after retracting a confession he claimed was made under pressure. For nearly four decades, he maintained his innocence from behind bars. Then, in 2023, advanced DNA testing proved he could not have been the killer, leading to his release. The real attacker's DNA remains unmatched on the national database. Merseyside Police, working with the National Crime Agency, are now tracing potential suspects through relatives' genetic material. Meanwhile, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is examining Sullivan's complaints about the officers involved in his case.
Sullivan's wrongful conviction has left lasting questions about the original investigation. Authorities continue searching for the true killer, using DNA analysis to narrow down suspects. His case remains under review by the IOPC as further details emerge.
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