Appeal
Keith and Barri's convictions were overturned on the 15th of November 2007.
Please click on the links below to review the recent articles on Keith and Barri’s appeal.
The following piece was written by Mark Daly:
Like just about everyone in court number 6 on Thursday, my heart was in my mouth when Lord Justice Keene was nearing the end of his judgement. This was only because experience teaches you to never to count your chickens in situations like these; because if I had listened to my head and really considered that and the previous days' evidence, then I would have been sitting back enjoying the moment that we had all been waiting for and working towards for up to five years.
However, as you all know, now is not the time to talk about the new, or even the old evidence. That time will come soon enough.
Thursday was a triumph. Nothing short of that.
I was watching Barri as the decision was announced. I watched as he looked out from behind his bars and sensed the freedom so cruelly robbed of him for five long years. I watched him as he excitedly edged forward in his seat and looked to his sobbing mum Sharon on the benches. To see the tireless and devoted Dennis, sitting in front of me, shaking with what I can only guess was a combination of joy at the verdict, and anger at the injustice of the first one. I could feel the relief sweeping through the benches and it gripped me. It was a moment I'll treasure for ever. And my proudest. Proud to have played my part along with Louise and Simon at the BBC.
But the real heroes of this hour had been Barri and Keith. I've only met Barri once (although I feel I know him better than some of my best friends) but I was so proud of him, sitting up there. Every now and again giving his mum a wink or nod of encouragement. Dignified in the face of true injustice. And Keith, to have had his day in court at last. How long must he have dreamed about this moment? Too long. I hope he enjoyed it.
John Coffey was fantastic, ably supported by Chris Hallsworth who doggedly stuck to what might have seemed like a lost cause.
And there's Peter Bull, without whom nobody would have been here. Andrew Moncreiff and Adrian Parker played their part too.
And now to a re-trial. Will there be one? I doubt it, but it doesn't matter. We all know what went on last week and nobody should have any fears.
Barri and Keith's convictions were a farce. But we dared to put our faith in the justice system again and we won through. Barri will find it tough being outside, as Keith knows only too well, but he's an innocent man now. Not just to his friends and supporters anymore, but in the eyes of the law.
And he should hold his head up high.
Mark Daly BBC
20th November 2007
Rough justice
Five years after the BBC Rough Justice programme first began investigating the case of Barri White and Keith Hyatt they have now had their convictions quashed by the Court of Appeal.
Free after five-and-a -half years
Barri White has spoken of his joy after judges quashed his life sentence for murdering 18-year-old girlfriend Rachel Manning.
BBC axes show that helped to free Barri White and Keith Hyatt
Two years after the pair's conviction the BBC's Rough Justice programme decided the case warranted further investigation.
Sky News Man Wins Retrial Over Murder
A man jailed for life for the murder of his 18-year-old girlfriend Rachel Manning has won an appeal against his conviction.
BBC News Manning murder conviction quashed
In 2002, Barri White, of Bletchley, Buckinghamshire, was jailed for life for killing his girlfriend Rachel Manning in 2000.
Retrial over Manning murder
A man who was given a life sentence for the murder of his girlfriend Rachel Manning in 2002 has won the right to a retrial.
Milton Keynes newsRachel Manning murder – White and Hyatt freed on appeal
TWO men convicted after the murder of 18-year-old Rachel Manning seven years ago have had their convictions quashed by the Appeal Court
BBC news Long-running Rough Justice to end
Rough Justice, the long-running BBC series which investigates alleged miscarriages of justice, is to end after 27 years.
The Guardian Cuts bring fear for victims of miscarriages of justice
Victims of miscarriages of justice will have to spend longer in prison before their cases are reviewed because of government spending cuts, the head of the body that reviews such cases said yesterday.
