Protest outside Downing Street over Jason Moore murder conviction

Demonstrators were joined by the Rt Rev Joanne Grenfell, Bishop of Stepney, who made a speech before press and TV cameras. 

It was the third and biggest demonstration to be held since Newsquest published a series of articles this year investigating the safety of Jason’s 2013 conviction for the murder of Robert Darby. 

The picket outside Downing Street, in Whitehall, included Mr Darby’s older brother Tim, from Havering. 

The Darby family has joined forces with the Moore family to fight for Jason’s release. 

Both families are convinced he is innocent. 
 

Demonstrators picketed outside the gates to Downing Street in Whitehall, Westminster, demanding Jason Moore’s release from his murder sentence (Image: Charles Thomson)

In her speech, Bishop Joanne called it “an extraordinary act of solidarity”. 

“We are here today to protest about the way that the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) has so far refused to listen to the evidence that shows this is an unsafe conviction,” she said.

“Evidence that is so overwhelming that anyone who reads it can hardly believe that it has been allowed to stand and to keep an innocent man in prison for the last nine years. 

“We are here today to say, let the evidence speak!”

A new application for the CCRC – the only body with the power to send Jason’s case back to the Court of Appeal – is being prepared after Newsquest uncovered new evidence. 
 

The Rt. Rev Joanne Grenfell, Bishop of Stepney, called on the authorities ‘to listen and look at this case again’ during a Free Jason Moore rally outside the gates of Downing Street (Image: Charles Thomson)

The star prosecution eyewitness, whose identification of Jason as the killer was directly responsible for the decision to charge Jason and take him to trial, told us that he was “drunk” on the day in question and said he was not sure he had identified the right person. 

He also claimed he had told police he was drinking that day. If true, that information was never disclosed to the defence. 

Among the protestors was Jason’s friend Marcus Eyers, who has known him since his school days. 

“He’s just such a nice, lovely, unassuming, quiet, gentle guy,” said Marcus. 

“The thing they have accused him of doing – it just ain’t him. Never in a million years could he do something like that.”

Marcus Eyers, Jason Moore’s friend since primary school, said he was a ‘gentle giant’, incapable of committing the crime he has been convicted of (Image: Charles Thomson)

Jason is accused of stabbing Robert Darby to death outside the Valentine pub in Perth Road, Ilford, in August 2005. 

No forensic evidence ever linked him to the crime and only one eyewitness identified him as the killer – the man who has since admitted being drunk. 

He had also rejected Jason as a suspect in an earlier ID parade and identified somebody else as the killer, who looked nothing like Jason. 

Another long-time friend, Alison Lawrence, said it was “inconceivable” that Jason could have stabbed Robert. 

“He’s a very gentle person,” she said. 

Jason, currently serving a life sentence, wrote a poem for the event, which was set to music and performed by Jay Nicholls and Tim Whitnell. 
 

Jay Nicholls and Tim Whitnell performed a poem by Jason Moore, set to music, outside Downing Street (Image: Charles Thomson)

Catch up on our exclusive investigation into Jason Moore’s murder conviction:

-Part 1 – East End Killing: Is a man doing life for a murder he didn’t commit?

-Part 2 – East End Killing: ‘My brother is doing life thanks to an ID parade which should never have happened’

-Part 3 – East End Killing: Witness and CCTV evidence never presented in court casts doubt on the case against Jason

-Part 4 – East End Killing: ‘I was drunk’, confesses star prosecution witness

-Part 5 – East End Killing: Pathologist’s pattern of ‘serious misconduct’ was hidden from jury

-Update: Fury as ‘innocent’ killer is sent to the back of appeal queue

Rt. Rev Joanne Grenfell, Bishop of Stepney, and Jason Moore’s mother Jenny, face the cameras at the Free Jason Moore rally outside Downing Street (Image: Charles Thomson)

Jason’s mood behind bars is “up and down”, said his mother, Jenny – but he was “excited” about the Downing Street protest and the support of Bishop Joanne, whose diocese covers Hackney, Islington and Tower Hamlets. 

“It’s not very often you get somebody with her status to join a protest, is it?” said Jenny. 

Other big names to back the Free Jason Moore campaign after Newsquest’s reporting earlier this year include two MPs, cricket legend Sir Ian Botham and justice campaigner Lord Nicholas Monson, who also attended the protest. 

“I think it’s great having the bishop here,” said Lord Monson. 

“I think she is marvellous. I congratulated her for actually stepping up to the plate. It’s not often this happens with a church.”

Jason Moore’s mother Jenny with Rt. Rev Joanne Grenfell, Bishop of Stepney (Image: Charles Thomson)

“I feel that the event has gone really well,” said Bishop Joanne. 

“Plenty of people have stopped to listen who wouldn’t have known anything about Jason’s case. 

“Justice for Jason is also justice for Robert Darby. If both families believe this is a wrongful conviction, they are both still waiting for justice.”

The Met Police has said the Robert Darby murder case is closed but it will review any significant new evidence.

The CCRC has said Jason is welcome to submit a new application for consideration.