Father wants son's 'killer' freed

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The father of a betting shop worker who was murdered in Liverpool 26 years ago is calling for the release of the man convicted of his murder.

John Suffield's 23-year-old son, also called John, was stabbed to death in a robbery in Toxteth in 1981.

Raymond Gilbert pleaded guilty at his murder trial but continues to protest his innocence after 26 years in jail.

And Mr Suffield, who believes Gilbert has already served too long, said he now had "some doubt" about his guilt.

His son was stabbed 19 times during the robbery at the Joe Coral bookmakers in March 1981. Two men escaped with £176.

Merseyside Police arrested Raymond Gilbert and proceeded, he claims, to interrogate him for 48 hours with no solicitor.

I don't think I would be a model prisoner if I'd been put in prison for life for a crime I didn't commit John Suffield senior

Gilbert changed his statement several times and claims he was pressured into making a confession, naming an accomplice - John Kamara.

The pair were sentenced to life in prison in 1981, although Kamara's conviction was quashed on appeal in 2000.

Despite initially believing both men to be guilty, Mr Suffield, 72, supported Kamara's campaign and now believes Gilbert is also innocent.

He told BBC News: "Over the last few years evidence has been revealed to me, from a number of sources, that changed that initial certainty that he did it into some doubt now as to whether he did it.

"I want this evidence to be looked at by someone who is qualified to look at it.

'Official request'

"Even so, Ray Gilbert has been in prison now for 26 years - his tariff was 15 years - so what has he been doing in prison for those extra 11 years?

"The Prison Service tell me that he is not a model prisoner and therefore his risk assessment for release on licence is unacceptable.

"I don't think I would be a model prisoner if I'd been put in prison for life for a crime I didn't commit."

Mr Suffield is now calling on the authorities to look again at Gilbert's case.

A spokesperson for Merseyside Police said: "Merseyside Police will consider any official request to review the case of Raymond Gilbert.

"There is no current direction for such a review therefore it would be innappropriate to comment further at this time."

The case of Raymond Gilbert is featured on BBC Inside Out on BBC One in the North West at 1930 GMT on Friday.