Bamber fails in bid for murder appeal but vows to fight on

The notorious inmate, 51, who is in Full Sutton prison, York, serving a whole life term for the 1985 killings, has always protested his innocence and claims his schizophrenic sister Sheila Caffell shot her family before turning the gun on herself in a remote Essex farmhouse.

The Criminal Cases Review Commission said that despite a lengthy and complex investigation, it “has not identified any evidence or legal argument that it considers capable of raising a real possibility that the Court of Appeal would quash the convictions”.

The Commission said this was its final decision in its longest-running case.

Giving its reasons in a 109-page statement, it said: “Matters of pure speculation or unsubstantiated allegation constitute neither new evidence nor new argument capable of giving rise to a real possibility that the Court of Appeal will quash a conviction.

“Neither can such a real possibility arise from the accumulation of multiple unsubstantiated allegations.

“The Commission is satisfied that nothing in the submissions made by and on behalf of Mr Bamber or any issues raised in the recent documentary can, either individually or cumulatively, give rise to a real possibility that the Court of Appeal would find any of Mr Bamber’s convictions to be unsafe.”

Mr Bamber was told of the decision in prison yesterday, the Commission confirmed.

A spokesman added: “This is a final decision and brings to a close the Commission’s current longest running case.

“The Commission has given due consideration to all the submissions made, old and new, before making a final decision on whether to refer the case to the Court of Appeal.”

Bamber, has been behind bars for 25 years for shooting his wealthy adopted parents, June and Neville, his sister Ms Caffell and her six-year-old twin sons Daniel and Nicholas at their farmhouse in Tolleshunt D’Arcy, Essex, on August 7, 1985.

He was given a whole life tariff after being convicted of the murders in October 1986.

In 2009 Bamber lost a Court of Appeal challenge against the order that he must die behind bars. He has twice lost appeals against conviction.

Bamber’s lawyer Simon McKay said his client was “very disappointed” and considering applying for a judicial review of the Commission’s decision.

In a statement issued by Bamber’s supporters, the convicted killer said: “I shall continue to campaign to prove my innocence in every way I can.”