Day 2: Freshwater Five Appeal

Some of the Freshwater Five, families and team at The Royal Courts of Justice.

It  was all a bit overwhelming yesterday. It was hard to process that it was actually happening. Today I was able to take in what was going on in court and take stock.

I’m so longing for justice for all of the boys. It’s been such an incredibly long time coming. We need to get Jon home with us and be able to walk down the road with him, as a family. Just to walk down the road with him, would be the greatest, sweetest thing. It’s just the little things. We need to get on with our life with Jon. He’s missed far too much, but we still have so much to do together.

I really need to say how grateful we all are to APPEAL for getting us here. It was incredible for us to find someone, Emily, who has the energy and commitment to uncover new evidence and drive things forward. She also had the faith in us and what we were saying. She believed in us.”

Sue Beere, wife of Jon Beere, one of the Freshwater Five, who has been in prison for over ten years.

Danny and Scott  felt a bit less intimidated today as they walked into the imposing and Victorian neo-gothic lobby of the Royal Courts of Justice. Danny, who works as a builder, remains fascinated by how it was put together stone by stone. Maisie Beere said that her Mum had listened to 12 sleep inducing apps the night before but that ‘they hadn’t really worked’ as she had only managed to drop off at 6am.

This was the second day of hearings on the Freshwater Five’s application for leave to appeal against the convictions of Jon Beere and Danny Payne, based on previous failures to disclose  radar evidence. Today testimony was heard from one expert instructed by the Applicants’ legal representatives, and the prosecution’s expert witnesses were called, including the original prosecution witness from trial. The Court was adjourned until tomorrow at 2pm.

“I’m trying to feel positive whilst at the same time trying not to raise my hopes too much. I felt less intimidated going into the court than I did yesterday and found it easier to focus on what the expert witness was saying rather than feeling anxious about where I was.” Scott Birtwistle, one of the Freshwater Five.

We’ll keep you posted on here, each day from Court. Keep the support coming on Instagram and Twitter. The Freshwater Five and their families really appreciate it.