Why does Jeremy Bamber maintain his innocence?
THE White House Farm murders were one of the most brutal in UK history.
Jeremy, then 24, savagely murdered his adoptive parents, Nevill and June Bamber, his adopted sister Sheila Caffell and her six-year-old twin sons Daniel and Nicholas – with his father's gun.
When and how was Jeremy Bamber found guilty of the White House Farm murders?
The monster tricked cops at first into believing schizophrenic sister Sheila had killed her mum, dad and kids before turning the gun on herself in the 1985 bloodbath.
But detectives started to wonder if a slim woman who was fatigued from anti-psychotics could really overpower and kill her 6 foot 4 well-built father.
Then, at the funeral, Jeremy's extended family said he'd cracked "smutty" jokes and gave a "chilling, big grin."
He also acted over-the-top: falling on his knees and howling in front of the TV microphones.
Soon after, Jeremy split with his girlfriend Julie Mugford and new evidence came to light.
Julie told the police he'd rung her on the night of the murders to say "it's tonight or never" and that he'd been plotting to kill his family for 18 months.
Jeremy was arrested on 8 September, denying everything and accusing his ex-girlfriend of being angry about their breakup.
Privately-educated Jeremy was no stranger to criminal activity – a few weeks before the murders he robbed the family business, making it look like an inside job.
And when travelling around Australia and New Zealand, he stole from a jewellery shop. He also boasted about smuggling heroin.
His extended family, who inherited the family fortune, said Jeremy often 'provoked' his parents – starting arguments and even hiding a bag of live rats in his father's secretary's car.
There had been tension leading up to the killings: Nevill told various people, including his secretary, that he foresaw a 'shooting accident'.
The rifle's silencer was found in a cupboard on the farm by Jeremy's cousins and it was noted that Sheila wouldn't have been able to place it there after shooting herself.
Sheila's feet were also clean – if she'd gone on a rampage they would have been blood-stained. Photos of Jeremy's feet showed blood on them.
Jeremy was finally charged with the murder of all his family members a month later.
Why does Jeremy Bamber say he is innocent?
He claims that there was someone else who was inside the house and alive at the time he was standing outside with dozens of cops.
His lawyers have also stated that there are eight grounds for appeal – including two phone calls which were not taken into account at the time of the slayings.
There are also claims that Essex Police tampered with the scene, and that it was impossible for him to carry out the murders.
Bamber said that there was someone else who was alive in the house at the time he was standing outside the farm with dozens of police officers.
His lawyers also believed that officers failed to enter the house of horrors for nearly four hours due to fears that someone was alive inside armed with a gun.
Previously Bamber described it as the “ultimate alibi”, after cops said that everyone was dead at the farmhouse by 3.30am.
Included in his alleged new evidence is a claim that a 999 call was made from the house at 6.09am – after police believe everyone was already murdered.
Carol Ann Lee has previously slammed his claims, after receiving hundreds of letters from the killer.
Carol, who wrote a book on the horrific incident, said that “nothing” about the claims made her doubt that Bamber was guilty – adding that the evidence was “absolutely not new”.
What appeals has Jeremy Bamber made?
Bamber had an appeal against his convictions dismissed by the Court of Appeal in 2002.
He also had a High Court challenge to the Criminal Cases Review Commission's (CCRC) refusal to refer his case for another appeal rejected in 2012.
The twisted mass murder has now launched a second legal bid after claiming he has identified eight issues which would prove his innocence in the grisly crime.
A spokesman for the Criminal Cases Review Commission confirmed that his case had been submitted and would remain under review.
Though there is no official timescale on when that might be, Bamber has boasted of his confidence that he will be released – bragging that his freedom is “just around the next corner.”
Mark Newby, Bamber’s solicitor, said: “Mr Bamber is going back to the CCRC because he got a significant amount of fresh evidence to show the conviction is unsafe.
"It is now for the CCRC to decide.”
Who else believes Jeremy Bamber is innocent?
Jeremy's supporters, who include MPs and campaigner Peter Tatchell, say the case is one of the worst miscarriages of justice in British history – and the website calling for his release has a forum where hundreds of people attempt to prove his innocence.
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