Stephen Downing 'may know true killer'

Stephen Downing, who was released after 27 years behind bars for a murder he claims he did not commit, says he may know who carried out the crime.

The 44-year-old, who was freed pending an appeal, also said that, without the support of his family, he could have confessed to the murder while in jail.

The revelations come in an interview on Tonight with Trevor McDonald, Mr Downing's first on television since his release last week.

He was jailed in 1974 for the murder of married typist Wendy Sewell who was found badly beaten in a cemetery in the Derbyshire Dales town of Bakewell where he worked as a groundsman.

The judge imposed a recommended a tariff of 17 years but he spent an additional 10 years in prison, mainly because he has always denied the crime.

Three years ago, fresh evidence was presented to the Criminal Cases Review Commission, including information which it is claimed implicates other people in the murder.

In the programme, Downing says: "We've got our ideas who they might be and hopefully in time the police will reopen the case and investigate it."

Describing his years in jail, he said: "Looking back now, I wish I could turn back the clock and say 'well I did do it' and clear my name later.

"But if you are innocent, why would you take the east route out? My family weren't prepared to give in and so I thought, why should I?"

He added: "I've certainly grown up and matured a lot more than when I went away and I suppose prison hasn't done me any harm in that sense. "