Campaign News

9 July 2008

The Key of the Door?

On 9 July, Sam's family, friends and supporters marked his 21st birthday travelling from Hackney to Aylesbury (where he is currently imprisoned) in an open-top London bus decorated with banners and posters calling for his release. On arrival, campaigners held an impromptu 21st birthday party for Sam at the prison gates  while the bus toured the town centre passing the prison at regular intervals. Special thanks to Timebus  who provided an excellent and friendly service on a day when the weather was anything but.


 

I June 2008

Jumping for Justice



 Congratulations to Sam Hallam campaign supporter Bobbieleigh Whitty who on Sunday 1 June successfully completed a 12,000 feet sponsored parachute to raise funds for the campaign. Thanks also to those campaigners who waited patiently with Bobbieleigh at the "drop zone" in Lewknor, Oxfordshire for 8 hours before the weather cleared sufficiently for Bobbieleigh to take to the skies. 



20 February 2008

Brum Vigil

 On 20 February 2008, the Sam Hallam Campaign delivered an extensive dossier of new evidence supporting Sam's innocence to the Criminal Cases Review Commission in Birmingham. The Commission is empowered to investigate alleged miscarriages of justice and to refer cases to the Court of Appeal. The fresh evidence which has never been considered by any court includes:

  • Evidence from persons who witnessed the murder of Essayas Kassahun which confirms that Sam was not present at the murder scene.

  • Material which casts serious doubt on the truthfulness of the chief prosecution witness at Sam’s trial.

  • Statements from witnesses that the police failed to disclose to defence lawyers evidence which supported Sam's account that he was not at the murder scene.

To coincide with the dossier’s presentation, Sam Hallam’s family, neighbours, friends and supporters  held a vigil outside the Commission’s offices. Many thanks to all who braved the freezing Birmingham weather to take part. 

 
23 September 2007

Procession for Justice
Hundreds of campaign supporters marched through Hackney on Sunday 23 September 2007 to highlight Sam's case.






3 September 2007
Ray Winstone ITV film

 

The campaign for SAM HALLAM received a major boost with the national broadcast (postponed from 23 July) of a 30 minute Tonight film investigating the case for Sam Hallam's innocence. The programme is presented by the well-known actor Ray Winstone.

18 August 2007

 Campaign Benefit

Held at Queen's Head pub, Hoxton













28 July 2007
 Campaigning in Hoxton Market




SAM HALLAM campaign stall in Hoxton Market, Saturday 28th July.
24 April 2007

 Hundreds Attend Campaign Launch

More than 200 people packed into Hoxton’s Arden Estate Community Hall for the launch of the campaign to free Sam Hallam. Supporters were updated on Sam’s unsuccessful March 2007 Court of Appeal hearing and the need to publicise the injustice suffered by this innocent young man. Anyone with information which might help persuade the Criminal Cases Review Commission to refer Sam’s case back to the Court of Appeal was urged to come forward. Many pledges of help for the campaign were made and numerous concrete proposals for future campaign activities were discussed.Sam’s mother, Wendy thanked all those who had already provided practical support while the meeting was reminded of previous supposedly “hopeless” campaigns mounted by ordinary people on behalf of innocent prisoners – the Birmingham Six, the Tottenham Three  and Bridgewater Four.