'Shambolic' watchdog fails to contact witness who may clear man of 2005 murder

Jason Moore, 53, submitted the new evidence 18 months ago

- AMY-CLARE MARTIN

It has been almost 18 months since Jason Moore submitted vital new evidence to the miscarriage of justice watchdog in a bid to overturn his murder conviction, but he is still no closer to freedom.

The only witness to the murder had revealed he was drunk and was not sure if he had identified the right man in an astonishing admission which Moore hopes could finally clear his name after 12 years in prison for a crime he insists he did not commit.

But in nearly a year and a half, the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), which has just been put under “urgent review” by the justice secretary, has failed to even speak to the witness.

Frustrated at the lack of action, the Right Reverend Dr Joanne Grenfell, Bishop of Stepney, stepped in to help. When she tried to contact the witness, Abdul Ahmed, who in 2023 revealed his doubts to an investigative journalist, she found him at home after simply knocking on his front door twice, The Independent can reveal.

The bishop said the failure to carry out the most basic enquiries leaves her “seriously concerned about the ability of the CCRC to do justice for anyone” as Moore languishes in prison.

“It wasn’t that difficult. I went in the morning and he was there,” said Bishop Grenfell, who is backing Moore’s campaign for freedom.

“It’s quite incredible that no one has been persistent in doing that. He clearly lives there and has lived there for quite a while.”