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Simon Hall confesses to Joan Albert murder 12 years on Simon Hall confesses to Joan Albert murder 12 years on
(35 minutes later)
A killer who stabbed a 79-year-old woman to death has confessed to the crime after a decade of claiming he was the victim of a miscarriage of justice. A killer who stabbed a 79-year-old woman to death has confessed to the crime after a decade claiming he was the victim of a miscarriage of justice.
Simon Hall, 35, was jailed for life in 2003 for the attack on Joan Albert at her home in Capel St Mary, Suffolk.Simon Hall, 35, was jailed for life in 2003 for the attack on Joan Albert at her home in Capel St Mary, Suffolk.
His case was reinvestigated by the BBC series Rough Justice in 2007 and his claims of innocence had also won the backing of MPs. His case was reinvestigated by the BBC series Rough Justice in 2007 and his claims of innocence also won the backing of ex-Ipswich MP Chris Mole.
Suffolk Police said he had now admitted his guilt to prison authorities. Police said Hall had now admitted his guilt to prison authorities.
Hall's case had been taken to the Court of Appeal in 2011 but the judges upheld his conviction. His case had been taken to the Court of Appeal in 2011 but the judges upheld his conviction.
In January, the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) said it was examining a new claim by Hall that he was carrying out a burglary elsewhere on the day the body was found, although Hall admitted he had not told police about this before. His legal team had cast doubt on fibres evidence used in his trial.
The former power company office worker claimed he was stealing CD players from a shop in Ipswich six miles away.
'Brutal crime''Brutal crime'
In January, the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) said it was examining a new claim by Hall, originally of Hill House, Ipswich, that he was carrying out a burglary elsewhere on the day Mrs Albert's body was found.
The former power company office worker had claimed he was stealing CD players from a shop in Ipswich six miles away, even though he admitted he had not told police about this before.
The CCRC said the case was now closed.
A Suffolk Police statement said: "After an extensive investigation involving a team of more than 20 detectives, Simon Hall was arrested, charged and subsequently convicted of Mrs Albert's murder in February 2003 at Norwich Crown Court.A Suffolk Police statement said: "After an extensive investigation involving a team of more than 20 detectives, Simon Hall was arrested, charged and subsequently convicted of Mrs Albert's murder in February 2003 at Norwich Crown Court.
"Over the 10 years since Hall's conviction there have been a number of appeals and campaigns which have asserted that Simon Hall was wrongfully convicted of Mrs Albert's murder."Over the 10 years since Hall's conviction there have been a number of appeals and campaigns which have asserted that Simon Hall was wrongfully convicted of Mrs Albert's murder.
"These events and the related uncertainty have undoubtedly exacerbated the suffering Mrs Albert's family have had to endure since Joan was murdered."These events and the related uncertainty have undoubtedly exacerbated the suffering Mrs Albert's family have had to endure since Joan was murdered.
"We sincerely hope that Simon Hall's admissions to having committed this brutal crime will in some way enable the family to move on with their lives.""We sincerely hope that Simon Hall's admissions to having committed this brutal crime will in some way enable the family to move on with their lives."
Hall's wife Stephanie ran the Justice 4 Simon campaign for many years in an attempt to free him from prison.Hall's wife Stephanie ran the Justice 4 Simon campaign for many years in an attempt to free him from prison.
When he was sentenced in 2003, he was given a minimum tariff of 15 years in jail.