The Murder of Diane Sindell and the Biggest Miscarriage of Justice

In August 1986, 21 year old Diane Sindell ran out of petrol as she drove home from working a shift at a local pub.

Witnesses recalled seeing her walking up Borough Road, in the direction of Tranmere - one witness even recalled seeing her arguing with a man.

When Diane's finance awoke the next day and she hadn't returned, he started to call around her family and employment to see if she had stayed there, when they confirmed she hadn't\t - panic began to set in, but before they could even report her as missing, a grim discovery was made by a dog walker. Diane's partially naked beaten and mutilated body.

And so, Merseyside Police found themselves dealing with the biggest murder inquiry in their history - they took descriptions from witnesses and suddenly, someone came on to Merseyside Police's radar.

Peter Sullivan - he sort of resembled the descriptions given, he was questioned and gave two different accounts of his whereabouts on the night Diane was murdered. Despite having a known learning difficulty, Peter was refused a solicitor or an appropriate adult whilst in custody.

Peter apparently made a confession - however, this was during a conversation that wasn't recorded. Peter was made the fit the evidence, and was convicted of Diane's murder - a jury also believed in the circumstantial evidence.

Despite being sentenced to life imprisonment, Peter continued to maintain his innocence. In 2021, the CCRC re-reviewed his appeal and it was found that a semen sample from Diane's body - it was tested for DNA, and miraculously - it didn't belong to Peter Sullivan!

Peter, by this point, had spent 38 years in prison.

If Peter didn't kill Diane, then who did?

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