Sam Hallam loses 'miscarriage of justice' compensation bid

  • London
Sam Hallam, with his mother, after a judge ruled his conviction was unsafe. Credit: Press Association.

A man from East London who spent more than seven years behind bars before his conviction was overturned has lost the latest round of his legal battle for compensation for the "miscarriage of justice".

Sam Hallam, who's now 28, was given a life sentence as a teenager following his conviction at the Old Bailey in 2005 for the murder of a trainee chef.

He was released after appeal judges ruled that fresh evidence made his conviction unsafe but his application for compensation was rejected by the Ministry of Justice.

New Ministry of Justice rules mean compensation is only paid out if applicants can show that "a new or newly discovered fact shows beyond reasonable doubt" that they did not commit the offences for which they were jailed.

Sam Hallam took his case to the Court of Appeal but today three judges dismissed his challenge.

Sam Hallam's mother Wendy Cohen said the family are bitterly disappointed.

Sam Hallam's lawyer said they would be appealing to the Supreme Court.