MK News Reports
All articles are published with permission. Latest article are at the top.
Cops have not seen BBC's video - Claim
CAMPAIGNERS behind the bid to free murderer Barri White claim police are refusing to examine new evidence uncovered by BBC-TV's Rough Justice programme which casts doubt on the conviction.
Police chiefs have decided that they WON'T be reviewing forensic evidence on the Rachel Manning case - eight weeks after the programme was shown.
One of Britain's leading forensic experts who worked on the programme was so convinced that evidence in the Rachel Manning murder trial was 'unsound' that he volunteered tens of thousands of pounds of work for free.
Forensic evidence was key to the convictions of Milton Keynes pair White and Keith Hyatt for their part in Rachel's murder.
Free the MK 2 campaigners claim that police didn't even ask the BBC to hand over its new information - a claim police deny.
Keith Hyatt, 53, who came out of jail last year after serving two-and-a-half years for perverting the course of justice after mutilating Rachel's face, said: "The fact that they haven't even asked for or seen the BBC evidence hardly restores my faith in the police.
This all seems like a face-saving exercise." Dr Peter Bull, the 'father of geo-science forensics in the 1990s', told mk news earlier this year that he found the prosecution evidence of Dr Ken Pye 'totally implausible'.
He said: "It wasn't possible to go into a muddy area and come away without any mud on you and there was not enough time to drive to Woburn woods and back again to Central MK and clean the van."
Rough Justice reporter Mark Daly said: "The matter is now in the hands of Barri and Keith's lawyers who are in the process of preparing an appeal. "It wouldn't be appropriate for the BBC to comment further at this stage."
MK Police spokesman Christopher Knibb said: "Thames Valley Police (TVP) wrote to the executive producer of Rough Justice last November requesting that if any fresh evidence be discovered, it should be made available to the force so we could review it in conjunction with the Crown Prosecution Service.
"We didn't receive a reply to that letter. "
The Chief Constable (Peter Neyroud) wrote to the Director-General of the BBC (Mark Thompson) on March 21, making it clear that TVP would, of course, review the case if there was sufficient evidence to do so.
"After reviewing the circumstances and evidence on which Keith Hyatt and Barri White were convicted, we do not intend to re-open the investigation at this time." But Dennis Gilmartin, Keith's brother in law, who ran the Free the MK 2 campaign while Keith was in prison added:
"I know Thames Valley Police have not contacted the BBC since the programme was broadcast, or since launching their own review of the case.
"We expected the police to at least ask for the new evidence which casts huge concern over Barri and Keiths guilt, nor have they asked for a copy of the forensic report from Dr Bull."
Hyatt, formerly of Bower Street, Bedford, said: "We will still clear our name. We've now got one of the top barristers, John Coffey QC, representing us." Rachel's disfigured body was found strangled in bushes at Woburn Golf and Country Club in December 2000 - after a night out at a fancy dress party.
City sales assistant Rachel, 19, left Chicago's nightclub in Elder Gate, MK, dressed in a 70s-style outfit of white, knee-length boots with platform heels, short black skirt, white blouse and blue wig.
Aylesbury Crown Court heard in 2002 how White strangled her and Hyatt moved the body to the golf course and mutilated Rachel's face. White, 26, from Epson Grove, Bletchley, remains in prison, having served three years of his life sentence for murder.
mark.stillman@mk-news.co.uk
Re-open Rachel Murder Case Call
Article published 11th may 2005
THE area's top cop has been flooded with letters urging him to re-open the Rachel Manning murder case.
This follows new evidence uncovered by BBC1 investigative programme Rough Justice seven weeks ago.
At the time, police said they would consider whether to re-examine forensic evidence. But the trail has gone cold since.
Rachel's disfigured body was found strangled in bushes at Woburn Golf and Country Club in December 2000 - hours after a night out at a fancy dress party.
Aylesbury Crown Court heard that sales assistant Rachel, 19, was last seen alive leaving Chicago's nightclub in Elder Gate, Milton Keynes.
She was dressed in a 70s-style outfit of white, knee-length boots with platform heels, short black skirt, white blouse and blue wig.
The court heard how boyfriend Barri White strangled her and Keith Hyatt had moved the body to the golf course and disfigured it.
Rachel's face was mutilated. Rachel (pictured) lived with her family at Caledonian Road, New Bradwell, before moving into shared accommodation with friends in the city.
White, 25, from Epson Grove, Bletchley, is still in prison, having served three years of his life sentence for killing his teenage girlfriend Rachel.
Co-defendant Hyatt, 51, of Bower Street, Bedford, was released on parole last autumn, having served 30 months of his five-year sentence.
Hyatt was cleared of murder, but found guilty of perverting the course of justice. Rough Justice reporter Mark Daly told mk news this week: "The chief constable of Thames Valley Police Peter Neyroud has been flooded with letters urging him to re-open the case. "More than a dozen people are outraged, saying the case deserves to be re-examined. "Dozens more are expected.
It's seven weeks since the programme went out and we don't know what's happening." Hyatt said: "This has been an orchestrated campaign to get everyone to write to the chief constable. "We need some answers.
They all know there's a killer out there. And for every minute the police delay is another minute Barri has to spend in jail for a crime he didn't commit."
Police spokesman Chris Knibb said: "Thames Valley Police is still reviewing some of the issues raised by the Rough Justice programme into Rachel Manning's murder. "However, no appeal has been lodged against the convictions of Barri White or Keith Hyatt.
If an appeal were to be lodged, Thames Valley Police has already stated that is would co-operate fully."
mark.stillman@mk-news.co.uk
Don't Worry mum, I'll be fine...
Article published 27th April 2005
THE mother of convicted murderer Barri White has told mk news: "There'll be no celebrations in our house the day my son is released."
A campaign to release White, from Epson Grove, Bletchley, has gathered momentum since BBC-TV show Rough Justice uncovered fresh evidence suggesting his innocence.
White was sentenced to life three years ago for the brutal killing of fiancee Rachel Manning in December 2000.
Talking to a newspaper for the first time, Sharon Shaheed told Mark Stillman of her grief at the imprisonment of her son for a crime she insists he didn't commit - and the loss of her future daughter-in-law. ON December 9, 2000, Sharon Shaheed was the proudest mum in the world.
She was celebrating her 40th birthday eight days late at a fancy dress party at Chicago's nightclub in Central Milton Keynes.
Party guests, son Barri White and his fiancee Rachel Manning were engaged to be married and trying for a baby.
In the next few hours, Sharon's universe was turned upside down.
Rachel's mutilated body was found strangled in bushes at Woburn Golf and Country Club.
Sharon's son was subsequently charged with the murder. In many cases it is easy to sympathise with the aggrieved and say: "I know how you feel".
But how many mothers know what it's like to see their son imprisoned life for a crime they claim he didn't commit?
How can that possibly feel? "Nobody knows how I feel," said Sharon, "He's my son. Nobody knows him like I do.
I know his every quirk. when he's sad, when he's hurt, when he's happy. "He's pretty damned amazing." So what did Sharon say when her son was found guilty to keep him going through his life sentence? "I said nothing to him," Sharon said, "I was in a huge state of shock. He actually said the words to me..." At this point Sharon starts crying. "...'Don't worry, mum, I'll be fine'. "And sometimes I think he's more fine than I am."
From having her son 'on tap', Sharon can now only see him twice a month - for 90-120 minutes a visit - at the Isle of Sheppey's Swalesdale Prison in Kent.
Sharon said: "Barri's only allowed four visits a month, but everyone and his mother wants to see him.
"He's a different person now. He went in a boy and will come out a man.
I don't want to let him out of my sight when he comes out of jail ... until he starts playing his loud music again, perhaps.
But part of me would like him to move away.
I don't think he'd be left alone in peace, not just by the public, but by certain parts of the authorities. "I was quite close with Rachel.
The more she got to know you the more she trusted you. "Rachel was an absolutely wonderful 19-year-old.
They were getting married and he loved her.
And she did him.
She trusted him with her whole heart. "They were trying for a baby.
They had got engaged a couple of months earlier, though no date was set, and they wanted to start a family. "They were shown kissing on camera on the night of the party and were always holding hands."
Confirming that Rachel's parents don't speak to her, Sharon added: "It terrifies me. I have a 21-year-old daughter, I have nieces and I don't know if the killer is someone who knew Rachel or Barri or not.
Who are they going to come after next? "Barri didn't have time to grieve, none whatsoever.
People keep mentioning silly things like compensation. But that's not going to bring Rachel back. "Barri's grieving process will only really begin when he's released. But, locked up in a cell 23 hours a day, there's an awful lot of time to think. "My dad always used to say to me 'if it's not right, it's not the end'. "And I have to believe that they will put Rachel's killer behind bars and my son will come back an innocent man, which is what he is.
"But certainly, we don't want parties. We just want a quiet time as a family. "There's been a death, I've lost my future daughter-in-law and we won't rest until Rachel's killer is brought to justice.
" She says without new evidence uncovered by BBC-TV show Rough Justice recently 'we would have been sunk'.
Sharon added: "Barri was on a huge high after the show was broadcast.
But since then he's been on such a low. He's pretty naive. Barri expected the programme to come out and the prison doors to come open and let him out the following day.
"I'm the type of person who always believed in British justice.
Now I have no faith in it.
But I've got to believe in it for Barri's sake.
"He's still my little boy, no matter how old he is..."
mark.stillman@mk-news.co.uk
Expert puts his money where his mouth is on murder case
Article Published 6th April 2005
A LEADING forensics expert is so convinced that evidence in the Rachel Manning murder trial was 'unsound' that he's volunteered tens of thousands of pounds' worth of work for free. Forensic evidence was key to the convictions of Milton Keynes pair Barri White and Keith Hyatt for their part in Rachel's murder.
But Dr Peter Bull, the 'father of geo-science forensics in the 1990s', has told mk news that he finds the evidence of Dr Ken Pye 'totally implausible'.
Dr Bull's work on the case for the recent BBC1 investigation show Rough Justice has rekindled hopes of clearing the names of White and Hyatt.
His revelations prompted Dr Pye to admit in the Mail on Sunday that he had neither the time nor the money to test his theories before giving evidence which helped convict the pair.
He was quoted as saying: "Dr Bull would have been paid thousands to do this research and he would've had several months."
But Rough Justice journalist Mark Daly told mk news: "Dr Bull did tens of thousands of pounds worth of work for us."
Dr Bull, 54, a university lecturer in Physical Geography at Oxford University, told this newspaper: "This is another assumption Prof Pye has made.
"Contrary to what Prof Pye was quoted as saying, I neither sought nor received any payment from the BBC or anyone else. I never sought nor received any expenses. I actually paid my own expenses out of my own pocket.
"I'll probably be ringing him to retract that.
"I went into this case with an open mind.
"But if the case came to trial today, I'd find the same forensic evidence totally implausible.
"I can't say that they're innocent. All I can say is that I believe this evidence highlighted as being the primary evidence which put them in prison is unsound.
"I felt strongly enough about this and that there isn't enough money for the appeal, which is disgraceful, that I've done hundreds and hundreds of hours - maybe more - for Rough Justice for free.
"It was only time. It hasn't cost the university any money."
Three or four things seemed wrong to Dr Bull.
He said: "It wasn't possible to go into muddy area and come away without any mud on you and not enough time to drive to Woburn woods and back again to Central MK and clean the van.
"I could do it pre-prepared with one-piece suits, even then you'd leave stuff in the van.
"I'm very surprised that the prosecution and the defence admitted no evidence whatsoever for van to be on the site.
"Prof Pye's assumptions seemed to fly in the face of the restricted amount of work that had been published in how quickly things fall off clothes.
"Such as the idea that only had a few flint particles come off when you flick a lighter. You try flicking a lighter yourself and see how many particles fall off.
"Proving those things sounds easy. I used the services of very clever students of mine to do projects, not on the material in the court, but to investigate how long pollen, iron fillings and powder stay on clothes.
"But there's still a long way to go. I'll carry on working on it.
Police are currently deciding whether or not to review the forensic evidence presented in the case following the Rough Justice programme.
mark.stillman@mk-news.co.uk
Bid to Free
3 Articles Published 30th march 2005
THE man jailed for mutilating murdered teenager Rachel Manning's body today tells his amazing story of his bid to free a killer - and clear his own name. Keith Hyatt's case went nationwide last Thursday on BBC1's Rough Justice.
The TV show uncovered new evidence and called for the convictions to be overturned.
In an exclusive interview with mk news today - the first time either of the convicted men has spoken to a newspaper - Hyatt reveals that he has written thousands of letters pleading his innocence during his time in prison.
Home Secretary Charles Clarke, Conservative leader Michael Howard and Thames Valley Police Chief Constable Peter Neyroud are among the recipients.
Hyatt, also accused of disposing of Rachel's body, told mk news: "One thing I'm good at is writing letters and I don't give up.
"I wrote 2,500 letters during my two-and-a-half years in prison to anyone who might be able to help."
One has been sent to DS Steve Morrison, from Thames Valley Police's major crime team, whose investigation helped send Hyatt and murderer Barri White, Rachel's boyfriend, to prison.
DS Morrison said after 2002's Aylesbury Crown Court trial: "I'm happy with the verdict which was reached today by the jury after the long trial."
And one senior MK police source told mk news only last year: "We felt it was a 100 per cent cast-iron conviction."
Hyatt said: "I've written to him (Morrison) saying 'I'll make you eat those words'."
Hyatt also revealed his four main objectives (in order):
• To find Rachel's killer and bring him to justice;
• To clear his and Barri White's names;
• To get 'the people who caused this miscarriage of justice' punished;
• A new law preventing 'unsafe' convictions on forensic evidence, getting the views of more than one scientist.
Hyatt, who met barristers yesterday for a High Court appeal bid, also reveals today that he has suffered a 'total, complete breakdown' since his arrest.
His case has been helped by Rough Justice's Murder Without A Trace, which attracted a massive estimated audience of 2.7million.
The show alleged:
• The steering wheel lock used to disfigure Rachel wasn't Hyatt's;
• Key forensic evidence was 'flawed';
• Vital witnesses were never called;
• Phone records suggest that Hyatt would have had to have driven to Woburn, dispose of the body, drive back to Central Milton Keynes and clean the van all within 13 minutes;
• Police failed to interview residents living near the last place where Rachel, 19, was seen (the telephone box at Evans Gate, Oldbrook) - where police believe White murdered her.
Rachel's disfigured body was found strangled in bushes at Woburn Golf and Country Club in December 2000 - after a night out at a fancy dress party.
City sales assistant Rachel left Chicago's nightclub in Elder Gate, MK, dressed in a 70s-style outfit of white, knee-length boots with platform heels, short black skirt, white blouse and blue wig.
The court heard how White strangled her and Hyatt moved the body to the golf course and mutilated Rachel's face.
Hyatt, 53 this weekend and formerly of Bower Street, Bedford, is now back living in MK since his release last autumn after getting five years for perverting the course of justice.
White, 26, from Epson Grove, Bletchley, remains in prison, having served three years of his life sentence for murder.
Rough Justice reporter Mark Daly said: "For the court of appeal to ignore the evidence we've uncovered would be a second travesty of justice."
So does Daly know who the killer is?
"There is someone featured in the programme who has acted very, very suspiciously. We can't take this case any further and we've passed our suspicions and our evidence onto the police."
Police spokesman Chris Knibb said: "We have watched the programme and we will now investigate whether or not we need to review the forensic evidence presented in this case."
mark.stillman@mk-news.co.uk
What price Justice
The bid to clear the name of Keith Hyatt and Barri White for their involvement in the brutal killing of Rachel Manning has gone nationwide. BBC-TV investigative programme Rough Justice has called for police to re-open the case.
MARK STILLMAN is the first newspaper reporter Hyatt has spoken to...
MS: You've gone to great lengths to protest your innocence. Why should people believe you DIDN'T mutilate Rachel's face, dispose of the body and pervert the course of justice? And what would you say to the police team who helped convict you?
KH: So where's the proof? Where's the evidence? (looks me straight in the eye). Even my fellow prisoners said I was too naive to be a criminal. I'm the only person on the outside who knows 100 per cent that neither Barri nor I did it. And they can do what tests they like on us.
MS: You've got a campaign e-mail (keith.hyatt@justice-for-barri-white-and-keith-hyatt.co.uk) and Rough Justice behind you...
KH: Yes, hits went through the roof. We got over 1,400 in the two days around Rough Justice going out. We usually get 30-60 a day.
MS: ...But did you do anything yourself to help your cause while in prison?
KH: One thing I'm good at is writing letters and I don't give up. I wrote 2,500 letters during my two-and-a-half years inside to anyone who might be able to help.
MS: Name some names.
KH: Home Secretary Charles Clarke, Conservative leader Michael Howard, Thames Valley Police Chief Constable Peter Neyroud (I want a meeting with him). And I sent your mk news front page article (March 16) to them.
MS: So the campaigns are helping?
KH: Yes, the campaigns have helped. Rough Justice has especially helped for getting the case national attention.
MS: I've heard from friends that your life has been ruined since your conviction. To what extent?
KH: I've had a total, complete breakdown. I'm still seeing a therapist every week. I'm not working. I'm a courier. And while they see I'm a convicted disposer of a murdered body, which you're obliged to declare by law, I don't think there's much chance trying. Once this is finished...
MS: Professor Ken Pye's forensic evidence at the heart of the case against you has been discredited in the Rough Justice TV programme. He claimed that flint particles from a lighter fall off clothes within hours, meaning the 20-30 found on Rachel's skirt must have come from the van within hours of her death. But Rough Justice's forensic experts claim that the flint particles could have got there at any point during the day leading up to her murder. Prof Pye reportedly told the Mail on Sunday that he had neither the time nor the money to test his theories. How does this make you feel?
KH: When does justice come with a timescale and a price? I've heard that police will be reviewing the forensic evidence. The Crown Prosecution Service was going to drop the case until Pye's report came along.
MS: So you'll be seeking compensation? If your conviction's overturned, what price can you put on two-and-a-half years in prison?
KH: Compensation is lower down on my list of priorities. But you can't put a price on it. Barri has lost both the grandparents who brought him up while he's been inside, and wasn't even allowed out to their funerals. My dad's had heart surgery.
MS: So what are your priorities (in order?):
KH: 1) To find Rachel's killer and bring him to justice; 2) To clear our names; 3) To get 'the people who caused this miscarriage of justice' punished; 4) A new law preventing 'unsafe' convictions on forensic evidence, getting the views of more than one scientist.
MS: So does all this leave you a bitter man?
KH: I have to rein in my anger.
MS: And what about Rachel's grieving parents with all this being dragged up again?
KH: Our hearts go out to them. We know what they're going through. We have the same goal. We want justice for Rachel too. What we want is for them to question the police in the light of the new evidence. I'll be interested to see their reaction to the Rough Justice programme. I'm not allowed to contact them. But there's nothing to stop them contacting me - perhaps through your newspaper.
MS: Finally, what kept you going during your two-and-a-half years in prison?
KH: Law books, forensics books, writing those letters.
mark.stillman@mk-news.co.uk
World of Still man
IT seems like a different lifetime now. But in the ancient days when eggs was eggs and a woman's place was in the wrong, the strange, un-PC sight of journalists and half the local CID happily drinking Bedford dry like cats and dogs on a truce was a weekly occurrence.
The advent of news management, rise of the public relations profession and subsequent erosion of trust has put an end to all that.
And, sadly, a lot less crime is solved and a lot less police-related scoops are uncovered as a result.
But one thing really surprises me about the Rachel Manning case in these uncommunicative times.
And that's the fact that anyone who will still talk to journalists in the Force insists on referring to the convictions of killer Barri White and body disposer Keith Hyatt as '100 per cent, cast-iron'.
Any reader who saw the brilliant BBC Rough Justice programme last Thursday could be forgiven for thinking that they are anything but.
Thames Valley Police's 'cast-iron' convictions appeared to have more holes than a colander exhibition.
Messenger shooting is becoming Britain's fastest-growing crime and The Establishment's fastest-growing sport.
A slap on the wrist if Very Important People do something naughty; dismissal, discredit and a life of ruin if you blow the whistle on anyone powerful.
Rough Justice's Mark Daly initially faced charges and the then Home Secretary David Blunkett's censure for exposing police racism in 2003.
Today, he's again putting his head - and his repuation - on the line for White and Hyatt.
He's uncovered facts that dozens of MK murder squad officers failed to.
And it makes you wonder how many times a non-'cast-iron' conviction here has led to innocent people being jailed.
Whatever my shortcomings as a journalist, an inability to instantly weigh up a person's character isn't one of them.
Famously, in 2000, at the sentencing of a paedophile clergyman, I instinctively identified one victim, now grown up, in a packed courtroom.
And, despite him not being identified during the case, I followed him outside and whispered: "Sorry, you're one of the vicar's victims, aren't you? Can I have an interview?" "Yes."
Well, either Hyatt mutilated Rachel's face with a steering wheel lock and coldly disposed of the body in Woburn woods - the actions of a human whitlow
- or he's telling the truth.
And, after spending lots of time with Hyatt on Monday, I can only endorse Daly's conclusion: MK police must swallow its pride, run the risk of losing face and re-open the Rachel Manning murder case.
TV Investigation re-opens Rachel Murder
Published 23rd march 2005 - Trial by television
THE family of murdered Rachel Manning are preparing to endure one of the most difficult nights of their lives since her death tomorrow when they watch a programme aiming to prove the convictions in her trial should be overturned.
Her father, Paul Manning told mk news yesterday: "It's difficult, but it is something we have to do."
'Murder Without A Trace - A Rough Justice Special' is due to be screened at 10.35pm on BBC1.
In it, front man Mark Daly will present 'compelling evidence' to have the case re-opened by police.
Thursday's trial by television comes almost three years after Barri White was jailed for life for his teenage girlfriend's brutal killing.
Rachel's disfigured body was found strangled in bushes at Woburn Golf and Country Club in December 2000 - hours after a night out at a fancy dress party.
Aylesbury Crown Court heard that sales assistant Rachel, 19, was last seen alive leaving Chicago's nightclub in Elder Gate, Milton Keynes.
She was dressed in a 70s-style outfit of white, knee-length boots with platform heels, short black skirt, white blouse and blue wig.
The court heard how boyfriend Barri White strangled her and Keith Hyatt had moved the body to the golf course and disfigured it. Rachel's face was mutilated.
Rachel lived with her family at Caledonian Road, New Bradwell, before moving into shared accommodation with friends in the city.
White, 25, from Epson Grove, Bletchley, is still in prison, having served three years of his life sentence for killing his teenage girlfriend Rachel.
Co-defendant Hyatt, 51, of Bower Street, Bedford, was released on parole last autumn, having served 30 months of his five-year sentence.
Hyatt was cleared of murder, but found guilty of perverting the course of justice.
The Manning family said they have been kept informed by Rough Justice during the investigation but are still unsure as to the exact details the programme will uncover.
Mr Manning, who will tune in with his wife Liz, said: "It is a hard thing to speak about. I have been aware of the investigation. I realise what makes the news and am not against investigative journalism.
"We asked to see a synopsis of the programme and were given some details. We will be watching the programme."
As revealed in mk news last week, the award-winning TV programme will set out to prove that their convictions were a 'miscarriage of justice'.
Daly said: "As far as I'm concerned, the guys are completely innocent and our film will go quite a way towards proving that."
The show will cast 'grave concerns' over forensic evidence and a prosecution eyewitness's statement.
mark.stillman@mk-news.co.uk
Prof's evidence under question
ONE of Britain's leading forensic experts has reportedly admitted that he had neither the time nor the money to test his theories before giving evidence which helped convict White and Hyatt.
As exclusively revealed in last week's mk news, his testimony will be undermined in tomorrow night's Rough Justice.
Professor Ken Pye, who worked on the Ian Huntley Soham killings and Sarah Payne's murder, compiled a report for the prosecution. It said that a rare combination of microscopic particles found on Rachel's skirt, including some from a cigarette lighter, matched those found on the passenger seat of Hyatt's van.
Prof Pye claimed that flint particles from a lighter fall off clothes within hours, meaning the 20-30 found on Rachel's skirt must have come from the van within hours of her death.
But Rough Justice's own forensic expert will claim that the flint particles could have got there at any point duing the day leading up to her murder.
Prof Pye told the Mail on Sunday: "In an ideal world we should have looked at retention. It wasn't done because this work was done at a late stage in the investigation. There may also not have the been the budget. Dr Bull [the programme's expert] would have been paid thousands to do this research and he would have had several months.There wasn't an opportunity to do it before the trial."
"The guys are completly innocent"
Published 16th march 2005
A miscarriage of justice - that's how an award-winning BBC-TV programme will describe the convictions in the Rachel Manning murder trial in a show due to be screened next week.
Rough Justice has already secured the release of several people wrongly convicted.
And next Thursday (March 24), at 10.35pm on BBC1, 'Murder Without A Trace - A Rough Justice Special' will present 'compelling evidence' to have the case re-opened by police.
Fronting the investigation is Mark Daly, who famously posed as an undercover policeman in Manchester to help expose racism in the police force in 2003.
This week he praised mk news for its part in helping with his latest probe.
Barri White, 25, from Epson Grove, Bletchley, is still in prison, having served three years of his life sentence for killing his teenage girlfriend Rachel.
Co-defendant Keith Hyatt, 51, of Bower Street, Bedford, was released on parole last autumn, having served 30 months of his five-year sentence.
Hyatt was cleared of murder, but found guilty of perverting the course of justice.
Rough Justice's two-and-a-half-year investigation has included interviews with dozens of people.
Daly told mk news: "We've found very compelling evidence to suggest that this is a miscarriage of justice.
"I genuinely believe that we've found evidence that shows that the convictions were unsafe and that the police must reconsider reopening the case."
He confirmed that as soon as the programme is broadcast, the defence team will move into action for the appeal.
Daly added: "I'm quite happy that people will watch this and come away at 11.30pm next Thursday with the feeling that the police have made a terrible mistake.
"As far as I'm concerned, the guys are completely innocent and our film will go quite a way towards proving that."
The show will cast 'grave concerns' over forensic evidence and a prosecution eyewitness's statement.
Daly said: "The Crown Prosecution Service had decided that it was going to drop the charges because there was no direct evidence.
"Then independent expert Professor Kenneth Pye was employed by the police. He gave strong support to the theory that Rachel must have been in Hyatt's van shortly before she died.
"This became the main thrust of the prosecution argument.
"But we commissioned a raft of new tests. We got our own independent expert, Oxford University's Dr Peter Bull, and had his work checked out by another independent expert.
"We have examined this aspect of the case thoroughly and it raises a few question marks on the prosecution steering lock evidence."
Rough Justice has spoken to several witnesses who, Daly claims, have thrown new light on the case - including three who were interviewed at the time but not called to court.
Daly added: "The lives of three families have been shattered.
"It's a terrible tragedy for Rachel and her family, but also for Barri and Keith because they did not do it.
"Keith's life has been ruined. Now his priority is clearing their names and getting Barri out.
"Barri has been given a lift by this investigation. It's always been a bit of a comfort to him that someone is looking at his case.
"We've kept the Mannings informed about the programme and written to them telling them when it's being broadcast. And our hearts go out to them."
So who's in the frame now?
"I can't say much at this stage," said Daly.
During the investigation, Daly and series producer Louise Shorter have been in regular touch with this newspaper, which made its files on the Rachel Manning case open to them.
Daly said: "I'd like to say how very grateful we are to mk news for putting the appeals out for us and keeping the case in the public eye. That has been very helpful."
mark.stillman@mk-news.co.uk
Campaign to free jailed Rachel pair
Published 21st April 2004
A FREE The MK 2 campaign wants to clear the names of convicted murderer Barri White and his co-defendant. White was sentenced to life at Aylesbury Crown Court in 2002 for the brutal killing of his teenage girlfriend Rachel Manning.
Co-defendant Keith Hyatt, now 52, of Bower Street, Bedford, was cleared of murder but found guilty of perverting the court of justice and sentenced to a minimum of five years.
Rachel's disfigured body was found strangled in bushes at Woburn Golf and Country Club in December 2000 hours after a night out at a fancy dress party.
The Free The MK 2 campaign has already enlisted the help of award-winning BBC-TV programme Rough Justice, which is re-examining the case. The campaign has also set up its own website (www.justice-for-barri-white-and-keith-hyatt.co.uk).
Now campaigners have spoken to mk news, the first time they have spoken to a newspaper. Hyatt's brother-in-law Dennis, who doesn't want his surname published, said: "I'll do everything within the law to help secure their freedom. "We're hoping our campaign will unearth new evidence and new avenues of inquiry."
Sales assistant Rachel, 19, was last seen alive leaving Chicago's nightclub in Elder Gate. She was dressed in a 70s-style outfit of white, knee-length boots with platform heels, short black skirt, white blouse and blue wig. The court heard how sports shop assistant White, 24, strangled her and parcel delivery driver Hyatt had moved the body to the golf course and disfigured it.
Hyatt comes up for parole in October. But Dennis said: "He'd rather sacrifice his freedom than confess to a crime he didn't commit. "I know the boyfriend's (Barri) always in the frame in all murder cases. But early on, the police seemed to have made up their minds.
"There were quite a few other suspects."
Rachel lived with her family at Caledonian Road, New Bradwell, before moving into shared accommodation with friends in the city.
mark.stillman@mk-news.co.uk
Rachel Killing appeal
Published 14th April 2004
THE BBC today launches a fresh appeal for witnesses into the murder of teenager Rachel Manning.
mk news last month revealed that award-winnning BBC-TV programme Rough Justice was re-examining the case.
The investigative team is now appealing to our readers to help them.
The new probe comes two years after boyfriend Barri White was jailed for life for her brutal killing.
Rachel's disfigured body was found strangled in bushes at Woburn Golf and Country Club in December 2000 hours after a night out at a fancy dress party.
Rough Justice reporter Mark Daly told mk news: "The prosecution case was at best shaky and at worst a disaster. Everything was circumstantial."
But series producer Louise Shorter, who has been working on the case for nearly two years, said: "We just want to get to the truth of the matter, for or against White.
"We want witnesses and especially jurors to come forward with any information, whether they think it's important or not.
"Jurors ARE allowed to come forward and discuss the case, but only under specific guidelines.
"And people will be able to speak in confidence to us. They don't have to appear on camera if they don't want to."
She added: "What really attracted us to this case was that it wasn't just friends and family who came to us, but the legal team as well."
Rough Justice has won many prizes for outstanding journalism, securing the release of several people unjustly convicted.
Co-defendent Keith Hyatt, now 50, of Bower Street, Bedford, was cleared of murder but found guilty of perverting the court of justice and sentenced to a minimum of five years.
During the four-week trial, the court heard both White and Hyatt emotionally plead their innocence.
White, now 24, of Epson Grove, Bletchley, collapsed in tears in the Aylesbury Crown Court dock after sentencing, shouting that they were jailing an innocent man.
Sales assistant Rachel, 19, was last seen alive leaving Chicago's nightclub in Elder Gate.
She was dressed in a '70s-style outfit of white, knee-length boots with platform heels, short black skirt, white blouse and blue wig.
The court heard how White strangled her and Hyatt had moved the body to the golf course and disfigured it. Rachel's face was found mutilated.
Rachel lived with her family at Caledonian Road, New Bradwell, before moving into shared accomodation with friends in the city.
The jury returned 11-1 verdicts on both men. Sentencing the pair, Judge Daniel Rodwell, said it was a particularly horrible case and what had happened was a 'dastardly deed'.
A statement from Rachel's parents later said: "We think that this verdict is a just one."
A senior MK police source said last week: "We felt it was a 100 per cent cast-iron conviction."
mark.stillman@mk-news.co.uk