Vulnerable Oliver Campbell was jailed for life for the fatal shooting of shopkeeper Baldev Hoondle in 1990. Now his legal team is trying to bring a civil claim against the police for using his condition to “badger and bully”
A victim of one of the longest miscarriages of justice is set to sue the police for “bullying” him into falsely confessing to murder.
Appeal Court judges ruled last September that the 1991 murder conviction of Oliver Campbell, who has learning difficulties, was unsafe.
Vulnerable Mr Campbell, 55, had been jailed for life for the fatal shooting of shopkeeper Baldev Hoondle during a botched robbery in Hackney, East London, in 1990. He spent 11 years in prison and a further two decades on licence but has had no compensation, despite his conviction being quashed.
Now his legal team is trying to bring a civil claim against the Metropolitan Police for using Mr Campbell’s condition to “badger and bully” him into falsely confessing to the murder. His solicitor Glyn Maddocks KC said: “It’s not going to be easy and the Met will probably fight it.”
Mr Campbell may never receive any compensation. A 2014 law change means a person has to prove beyond reasonable doubt they did not commit a crime – nearly impossible without DNA evidence.
Solicitor Toby Wilton, representing Oliver, wants the government to make the system fairer. He said: “[The law change] means that for many victims of miscarriages of justice [like Oliver], the only way they can hope to obtain compensation is by bringing complex, adversarial, civil claims through the courts against the state bodies responsible – it heaps injustice upon injustice.”
Oliver’s barrister Michael Birnbaum KC added: “The law should be changed to allow someone like him, convicted long ago, to claim compensation if an appeal is allowed.” Mr Campbell’s conviction was overturned on the basis of new evidence providing more information about his mental state when he confessed. But claims Met Police officers manipulated him were rejected. The judge said the quashing would come as a “heavy blow” to Mr Hoondle’s family.
A friend of Mr Campbell’s said: “After 35 years of trying to clear his name, he is enjoying his life after the nightmare of prison, life licence, and the constant battle and waiting for those in authority to hear his appeal. He works in a coffee shop and pursues his passion for music festivals and events, without having to report to probation all the time now. However, he feels it is totally unfair that he has received no payout for the loss of his freedom and the loss of his liberty and the fact he was unable to have an ordinary life.”
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: “The July 1990 murder of Baldev Singh Hoondle was fully investigated by detectives and a range of evidence was brought before a jury who convicted the defendant the following year. The conviction was quashed in September 2024 based on new expert evidence into Mr Campbell’s state of mind. This was not available in 1991.
“The Codes of Practice – which include access to free and independent legal advice as well as an appropriate adult in an interview – remain in force today. Mr Campbell declined access to support having been found fit for detention and interview after a medical examination.”