'Wolfman', jailed since 1987, to have murder conviction re-examined after new DNA evidence

The conviction of a man who has been jailed for more than 35 years for murder will be re-examined after DNA evidence emerged.

Peter Sullivan was convicted of murdering Diane Sindall after leaving work in Bebington, Merseyside, in August 1986 and has been in prison since the following year.

Sullivan, then 29, had spent the day drinking heavily after losing a darts match and emerged armed with a crowbar.

That’s when he encountered Miss Sindall, a 21-year-old florist and part-time barmaid, walking towards a petrol station where he – in his belief – beat her to death.

Sullivan was dubbed the “beast of Birkenhead” or the “werewolf” because of the bite marks found on the victim’s body, and was found guilty unanimously.

But in its third attempt to overturn Sullivan’s conviction, the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) confirmed the case had been referred to the Court of Appeal.

The CCRC said Sullivan turned to the body in March 2021, citing police interviews, bite mark evidence given at his trial and concerns about the murder weapon.

After consulting experts, the commission said DNA information from samples taken during the crime produced a profile that did not match Sullivan.

The CCRC added that there may have been a breach of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 because Sullivan’s initial legal representation was refused.

Sullivan also alleged that he was not provided with a suitable adult during the interviews.

He had previously raised questions about DNA evidence by examining the body in 2008, but forensic experts said further testing was unlikely to reveal the DNA profile.

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In 2019 he applied to the High Court for permission to appeal his conviction on the basis of bite mark evidence, but this application was rejected in 2021.

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