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Ray Winstone |
FREE TEEN ‘MURDERER’ – WINSTONE
Actor gives his backing to campaign for jailed youth
HARDMAN actor Ray Winstone has pledged his full support to free the teenager who was jailed for life for the 2005 murder of an Ethopian refugee in Old Street.
The Cockney actor said he is “100 per cent” behind Sam Hallam, a kitchen fitter from the Arden Estate in Hoxton who was just 17 when he and another man were sentenced to life imprisonment for the brutal mob killing of Essayas Kassahun.
Mr Winstone, famous for his tough-guy roles in films such as Scum and Sexy Beast, has known Sam since he was a child.
He said: “Sam’s story reads like a bad movie. You think it could never happen it’s so unbelievable.”
Mr Winstone’s nephew, Bobby, is Sam’s best friend and the star has vowed to “put this thing right”.
Support for Sam’s case is snowballing, with veteran campaigner Paul May, who has led successful miscarriage of justice campaigns for the Birmingham Six and the Bridgewater Four, leading the call for justice.
Mr Kassahun, 21, from St Luke’s estate in Finsbury, was attacked by a gang of youths near the junction of Bath Street and Old Street when he came to the defence of his friend Louis Colley.
Up to 40 youths surrounded Mr Kassahun, many armed with knives and clubs.
A baseball bat modified with thick screws and nails dealt the killer blow, piercing the young man’s brain.
Hallam was arrested a week later at his home, but he has always maintained his innocence. He claims he was never at the scene and had nothing to do with Mr Kassahun’s death.
Sam’s mother Wendy Cohen said: “I’m completely sure of his innocence. I’ve always protested it and so has Sam – we’re never giving up.”
Controversy surrounded the Old Bailey trial, with the only witness who placed Mr Hallam at the murder scene changing his testimony half way through.
Mr May said: “The prosecuting evidence which convicted Sam was highly dubious and definitely contradictory, and there is no forensic evidence linking him with the crime.”
Now, with new witnesses coming forward who insist on Sam’s innocence, the Justice for Sam Hallam campaign has been launched.
More than 300 well-wishers from the Old Street community attended the inaugural meeting at the Arden Estate Community Hall in Regan Way, Hoxton, last week.
Mr May added: “At this stage in the appeal I’ve never known such public support.”
Ms Cohen said: “I don’t know what I would have done without the support of everybody.”
For details of the case or to pledge your support, visit www.samhallam.com. |
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