Ex-British policeman contests conviction for killing his wife

 
Frank Thorne8 July 2013

A former Surrey policeman who was convicted of killing his wealthy wife in Australia is appealing against his conviction.

Desmond Campbell was jailed for a minimum of 24 years in 2010 for murdering 49-year-old Janet six months after their marriage by pushing her off a 170ft cliff five years earlier, in the Royal National Park, south of Sydney.

Sources said he hopes to use a similar defence to that of Australian Gordon Wood, who in 2008 was found guilty of hurling his girlfriend to her death at a Sydney suicide spot. With no witnesses to either fall, both men were convicted on evidence from retired physics professor Rod Cross. Mr Wood walked free after Professor Cross’s tests were described on appeal as “unsophisticated” and lacking impartiality.

Campbell, 55, who was based in Cranleigh with Surrey Police in the Nineties, is claiming miscarriage of justice and told a source his appeal will focus on “flawed” information tabled by Professor Cross. At next week’s hearing, Campbell will be represented by Mr Wood’s solicitor, Michael Bowe.

During his four-week trial, Campbell was portrayed as a debt-ridden Casanova who, after learning of Janet’s wealth, chased and charmed her.

Former traffic warden June Ingham, from Reigate, flew to Australia to give evidence against him. She told how he dumped her by text after she gave him nearly £40,000. The prosecution estimated Campbell’s benefit from his wife’s death at £150,000 in cash, gifts and property, and £75,000 in her will.

Professor Cross told the jury Janet’s fall was consistent with being pushed. Campbell, who maintained she fell, now claims Professor Cross had no qualifications in biomechanics, and did not visit the scene until more than four years after the event, in which time, he says, rock falls had altered the conditions considerably.

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