Bamber confident he will be cleared

The notorious inmate, serving a whole life term for the 1985 killings, claims schizophrenic Sheila Caffell shot her family before turning the gun on herself.

In extracts from a newly-published letter, Bamber says: "We now have evidence to directly link Sheila in a struggle with my dad in the kitchen, a clear forensic link that is compelling to say the least.

"Sheila's psychiatry files were not released to us. So building a case against Sheila has not been easy but we have pretty much done so."

Bamber has been behind bars for nearly 25 years for shooting his wealthy adopted parents June and Nevill, Sheila – nicknamed Bambi – and her six-year-old twin sons Daniel and Nicholas at their farmhouse in Tolleshunt D'Arcy, Essex.

He claims to have unearthed new evidence in the shape of a police phone log that suggests his father called police on the night of the massacre, saying his daughter had "gone berserk" and "got hold of one of my guns".

In his letter, Bamber says: "No doubt when my conviction is overturned a public inquiry of some sort will get access to this material and prove without doubt that Sheila was responsible."

He goes on to talk about what he will do when released from prison.

"If a little money comes my way, buying a small farm would perhaps be fulfilling a dream but who knows what opportunities will come my way, or if my inheritance will be returned."

The prosecution at his trial said he had carried out the murders out of greed, hoping to inherit a 500,000 fortune.

Last year he lost a Court of Appeal challenge against the order that he must die behind bars. He has twice lost appeals against conviction. Essex Police was unable to comment on the fresh evidence claim.