An East End man fighting to overturn his murder conviction has had his case mentioned at the Houses of Parliament, in front of MPs, top barristers and journalists.

Jason Moore was convicted of murder in 2013 after a single eyewitness identified him as a killer, seven years after the crime. No forensic evidence has ever linked him to the offence.

A two-year Newsquest investigation uncovered new evidence calling into question his conviction over the 2005 stabbing of Robert Darby outside the Valentine pub in Gants Hill.

Even Robert’s family believe Jason is innocent. Robert’s brother Tim, from Havering, is one of the leaders of the campaign to overturn Jason’s conviction.

Jason’s case was raised on Tuesday (April 16) at a meeting hosted by the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Miscarriages of Justice.

The event was held to launch a legal journal called PROOF, detailing suspected and proven miscarriages of justice.

Romford Recorder: Jason Moore's sister Kirstie and justice campaigner Lord Nicholas Monson at the PROOF launch in the Houses of ParliamentJason Moore's sister Kirstie and justice campaigner Lord Nicholas Monson at the PROOF launch in the Houses of Parliament (Image: © Andy Aitchison)

It includes an article on how Newsquest tracked down the eyewitness in Jason’s case, who blurted out that he had been drunk at the time and might have picked out the wrong suspect.

That evidence is now being used to challenge Canary Wharf man Jason’s conviction.

Jason’s sister Kirstie attended the meeting at Parliament on Tuesday, accompanied by the Bishop of Stepney and justice campaigner Lord Nicholas Monson.

A crowd of other supporters – including his mother Jenny, uncle Tom and girlfriend Sandra – waited in the street outside with placards.

On their way in, Kirstie’s 'Free Jason Moore’ t-shirt and Bishop Joanne Grenfell’s corresponding badge were confiscated by parliamentary security, on grounds that protest materials cannot be taken inside.

The meeting began with a video message from Andrew Malkinson, who served 17 years in prison for a rape that DNA later proved he had not committed.

“I want my case used as a catalyst for reforms,” he said. “The appeal system doesn’t work, or it’s working very ineffectively.”

Romford Recorder: Glyn Maddocks KC addresses the parliamentary meeting about miscarriages of justice, which attracted so many people that security ordered it be relocated to the biggest committee room in WestminsterGlyn Maddocks KC addresses the parliamentary meeting about miscarriages of justice, which attracted so many people that security ordered it be relocated to the biggest committee room in Westminster (Image: © Andy Aitchison)

Andrew’s case was turned down twice by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), after the exculpatory DNA had been found.

“They could have saved me at least ten years of wrongful imprisonment,” Andrew said in the message.

The CCRC – currently deliberating over Jason’s case – is now the subject of two investigations into its handling of Andrew’s case; one by the CCRC itself and the other by Judge Sarah Munro, who was at the meeting.

Other attendees included Barry Sheerman MP, Andy Slaughter MP and current and former BBC investigative journalists Bronagh Munro, Louise Shorter and Chris Jessel.

Oliver Campbell, who is in the middle of a High Court appeal over his own murder conviction, was in the audience, as was Winston Trew, whose manslaughter conviction was overturned in 2019.

Both men’s cases feature in the new edition of PROOF, alongside Andrew’s, Jason’s and several others.

Romford Recorder: Some of the Free Jason Moore supporters who gathered outside Parliament to coincide with a meeting inside about miscarriages of justiceSome of the Free Jason Moore supporters who gathered outside Parliament to coincide with a meeting inside about miscarriages of justice (Image: Charles Thomson)

PROOF editor Jon Robins said the journal had been produced “to shine a light on really problematic cases”.

Mentioning Jason’s case, he told Kirstie: “It’s fantastic to have you in the room.”

Barrister Glyn Maddocks KC said the latest edition had been inspired by Andrew.

“We are all immensely indebted to Andrew Malkinson for his dignity and generosity of spirit,” he said.

“When he had the media’s full attention… he reminded everyone that he was by no means the only one.”

When Andrew walked free from the High Court last year, he wore a t-shirt which said: “Innocent and not the only one”.

The latest edition of PROOF is titled: “The other ones”.  

“It’s shocking how often our criminal justice system has to be dragged kicking and screaming to acknowledge its own mistakes,” said Mr Maddocks.

Romford Recorder: Jason Moore's mum Jenny outside in Parliament Street with her copy of PROOFJason Moore's mum Jenny outside in Parliament Street with her copy of PROOF (Image: Charles Thomson)

Catch up on our exclusive investigation into Jason Moore's murder conviction:

Mr Jessel, himself a former CCRC investigator, said that proving miscarriages of justice was too often left up to “obsessive compulsive journalists”.

The launch event was held two hours after Newsquest won two national awards for its reinvestigation of Jason Moore’s case.

The CCRC has said it will cooperate fully with Judge Munro’s investigation.

“The CCRC has commissioned a separate independent review into the CCRC’s handling of the case and we anticipate that its findings will complement and support this inquiry to create a clear picture of what happened,” it said.