CAMPAIGNERS fighting to overturn Simon Hall’s conviction for Joan Albert’s murder are offering the criminal community a �10,000 reward for information.

Hall, 33, is currently at HMP Kingston in Portsmouth serving a life sentence for killing the 79-year-old widow at her home in Boydlands, Capel St Mary, on December 16, 2001.

He was convicted after his Norwich Crown Court trial in February, 2003.

Hall has always denied stabbing Mrs Albert to death.

However, earlier this month he lost his appeal against conviction at the Royal Courts of Justice. Hall’s conviction was based on fibre evidence found at the murder scene and at his parents’ home in Snowcroft, Capel St Mary, although no garment linked to the fibres was ever found.

Hall’s wife Stephanie said: “We are putting out a �10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the real killer, or killers, of Mrs Albert and the subsequent release of Simon Hall.

“We are aiming our plea specifically at the criminal fraternity of Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk. We would like to add that while no-one likes an informer, this was a 79-year-old woman who was murdered in her own home.

“Anyone with information can contact Simon’s solicitor, Correna Platt, at Stephenson’s solicitors on 01942 777777 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.”

During Hall’s three-day appeal in December, the court heard his conviction relied on the rarity and identical nature of fibre evidence found at Boydlands and Snowcroft.

Expert textile analyst Tiernan Coyle said he had established there were differences between the fibres found.

However, on January 14 the Court of Appeal said it considered the original conviction was safe.

The presiding judges concluded Mr Coyle’s evidence did not give rise to any grounds for allowing the appeal.

While they accepted the fibre evidence given at trial was incomplete in certain facets, the judges said they were satisfied scientific support for the assertion that Hall was the source of the fibres found at the crime scene was compelling.

Danielle Cooper, representing Hall, gave notice his legal team would be challenging the appeal court’s decision.

colin.adwent@eadt.co.uk