IPSWICH: A former Ipswich man convicted of the murder of a pensioner has been offered a �50,000 bail surety by a campaign organised to free another Suffolk man convicted of murder.

Simon Hall is awaiting his appeal against conviction for the murder of Capel St Mary pensioner Joan Albert in December 2001. Hall’s camp is considering a bail application for the 32-year-old, in a bid to have him freed from prison.

Kevin Nunn, of Woolpit, was 45 years old when he was convicted in November 2006 of the murder of Dawn Walker. Her body was found close to the River Lark, near her home in Fornham All Saints, Bury St Edmunds, on February 4, 2005.

Nunn is now serving a life sentence with a minimum 22-year tariff.

Both men have always denied they are guilty of murder.

Hall’s wife Stephanie said his supporters have become frustrated over the length of time it has taken to set a date for her husband’s appeal.

The Halls’ campaign Justice4Simon has become close with those behind the Justice 4 Kevin Nunn website.

Mrs Hall, of Ipswich, said: “A bail application is being looked at and Justice 4 Kevin Nunn has put up a �50,000 surety on Simon’s bail application.

“We would like to thank Kevin Nunn and all his family.”

Mrs Hall has also e-mailed the Royal Courts of Justice pointing out that the Hall camp and the Crown Prosecution Service appear ready to go ahead with his appeal.

She also makes the case for holding the appeal earlier than October, when it was expected to take place.

In her e-mail, Mrs Hall states: “It has been brought to our attention that the earliest Simon’s appeal may be heard is October 2010.

“Whilst we appreciate that the appeal courts operate on a skeletal basis during the summer recess, and only the most urgent of cases are heard during this time, we consider Simon’s case to fall into this category.

“We are also aware that other factors, such as diary schedules for all parties, must be taken into consideration.

“However, it is nine months since the CCRC referred Simon’s case and it would appear there have been several delays, for one reason or another.

“Therefore in the interest of justice we are asking that Simon’s appeal is heard at the earliest possible opportunity.”

Hall, formerly of Hill House Road, Ipswich, was given a life sentence for stabbing 79-year-old Mrs Albert to death at her home in Boydlands, Capel St Mary, on December 16, 2001.

In October last year the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) decided to refer Hall’s conviction to the Court of Appeal as it found new forensic evidence.

The CCRC has said it believes its findings cast doubt on whether Hall is guilty of the murder.

They centre partly on fresh forensic analysis of fibre samples taken from the crime scene and other locations during the original police investigation.

There is also said to have been significant evidence relating to another burglary in Capel St Mary on the same night as Mrs Albert was murdered.

Hall was convicted at Norwich Crown Court in February, 2003. He appealed against his conviction, but it was dismissed in April 2004.

Hall then applied to the CCRC for a review in June 2005.

Brigitte Butcher, Kevin Nunn’s sister, said: “We are all in this together. We are supporting one another. We said we would help where we could and if we can do anything to help Simon get on bail then we will.”