Bentley Case Goes To Appeal Court

The Criminal Cases Review Commission, which took over investigation of alleged miscarriages of justice from the Home Office last April, announced it was referring the case back to the Court of Appeal.

His family are now hoping the appeal judges will quash his conviction for the murder of Pc Sidney Miles, paving the way for the full Royal pardon they have always sought.

Their solicitors said there was now "a real prospect that this oldest and most brutal miscarriage of justice will be rectified and Derek's name posthumously cleared".

Campaigners have long maintained that 19-year-old Bentley should never have been sent to the gallows for the killing of Pc Miles, who was shot by his 16-year-old accomplice Christopher Craig.

His niece Maria Bentley-Dingwall said she was "absolutely ecstatic" that case was now finally going be heard by the Court of Appeal.

"I cannot really believe it - it is just wonderful," she said. "Today has gone a little way towards restoring some of my faith in the British justice system.

• Bentley Case Sent Back To Appeal Court - Thursday November 6, 5:09 PM