The wife of convicted murderer Michael Steele told how she has real hope he could be a free man in the new year.

Jackie Steele, whose husband has been in prison for almost nine years on a triple life sentence, said his case has been referred to the Court of Appeal.

Mrs Steele, who lives in the Tendring area, told the Gazette that if it is uncontested, which she believes it might be, Steele could be released on bail as early as next month.

"It is the best possible Christmas present we could have hoped for," she said.

Steele, now 62, who was living in St Mary's Road, Great Bentley at the time of his trial, was convicted along with Jack Whomes, of Suffolk, for the murders of Essex drug barons Pat Tate, Craig Rolfe and Tony Tucker at Rettendon, near Chelmsford, in December 1995.

The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) has now asked for their convictions to be looked at again in the light of new evidence.

The pair, who have always protested their innoncence, were jailed for life and told they would have to serve a minimum of 15 years before becaming eligible for parole.

Whomes's mother, Pam Whomes, 68, said she was over the moon with the news her son had been granted a fresh appeal.

A spokesman for Essex Police said following a direction by the CCRC the Hertfordshire Constabulary had been appointed to conduct inquiries into the case. A report had been made which showed the original investigation was not flawed.

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Published Wednesday, December 22, 2004

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