CAPEL ST MARY: Simon Hall has said he is optimistic his conviction for the murder of pensioner Joan Albert will be overturned on appeal.

However, the 32-year-old believes he will have to face a re-trial in his bid to prove he is innocent of killing the 79-year-old at her home in Boydlands, Capel St Mary, in December 2001.

Hall, formerly of Hill House Road, Ipswich, added he is confident he would be acquitted if another trial were to take place.

In an open letter to supporters on his website Justice 4 Simon he wrote: “I’ve done incredibly well to get an appeal.

“Well, I say ‘I’ but in fact a great number of people have done the work for which I am and will be eternally grateful.

“I’m expecting a re-trial to come from this appeal because of three experts in this case, one is in complete opposition of the next, and another is sitting bang in the middle of the scale.

“A retrial is in essence a good result and I’m confident that with recent developments the only possible verdict is not guilty.

“There’s more than enough reasonable doubt in this case to achieve it.”

The open letter reflects his gratitude to those who have supported him, including his wife Stephanie who he married in prison. It also gives an insight into the struggles during his campaign for freedom.

Hall’s appeal against conviction is likely to take place in June.

Although no definite date was set for the appeal at a directions hearing at the High Court in London last month, it was suggested it would happen in two months time.

Hall was jailed for life at Norwich Crown Court in February 2003 for stabbing to death Mrs Albert.

Hall has always denied killing Mrs Albert. The prosecution case relied heavily on fibre evidence.

Late last year, the case was sent to the Court of Appeal by the Criminal Cases Review Commission, which said there was a real possibility evidence had been unearthed that cast doubt on Hall’s conviction.