John Riley
A Liverpool man who is the victim of a gross miscarriage of justice.
John
was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment (min 20 years), for the murder of
Stephen Cole which took place in the Farmer Arms Pub May 1996.
This was an horrific
attack and John Riley had one eye witness against him BUT John is not a murderer
and his conviction is unsafe because.-
The eye witness was Lorraine Cole the deceased's
wife. She allegedly witnessed John Riley attacking her husband after she had been
sprayed directly in the face (as said in her statements) with CS Gas. Later in court
Lorraine Cole said she put her hand up to her face when sprayed which protected her
from the gas enabling her to see. Why was she allowed to change her mind. Also when
the gas was sprayed other members of the public suffered the effects of this CS Gas
complaining they couldn't see.
Stephen Cole was initially attacked by a gang of 8
to I 0 males, Lorraine Cole was able to describe the clothing of these attackers,
the weapons they used and the events of the attack. She confirmed that John Riley
was NOT amongst this group of attackers. Minutes after the first group entered John
arrived at the premises. Lorraine stated that he attacked her husband, however she
could NOT describe John's clothes other than saying they were dark. John was wearing
a blue shirt and white coloured jeans, but Merseyside Police never asked for these
clothes for forensic examination. Also she could not describe any weapon and did
not know the exact whereabouts on the body he was alleged to have attacked other
than saying "the bottom half".
Stephen died as a result of a blow to the head by a
baseball bat and multiple stab wounds (Pathologists report Crown Court November 1997).
In her statements Lorraine described a small young dark haired male aged between
25 - 30 attacking Stephen with a baseball bat. This could NOT have been John Riley
a 48 year old man with greying hair.
If he had taken part in such an horrific attack,
why did John Riley have NO FORENSIC EVIDENCE against him. Surely if he "slaughtered"
Stephen Cole (Liverpool Echo 6th December 1997) he would have been covered in the
deceased's blood. As the forensic expert said in court "John Riley's car was blood
free".
John Riley is a man of good character with no previous convictions.
If you wish
to support John and his family in the fight to prove his innocence then please contact:
Justice
for John Riley Campaign, P.O. Box 53, Kirkby, L33 8YT.
If you have any information
concerning this case please telephone: 0780 397 6638 or 0780 348 8069 (All calls
will be treated with the strictest confidence).
www.slimeylimeyjustice.org