CONVICTED murderer Simon Hall is to make a fresh bid for freedom, the East Anglian Daily Times can reveal.A formal hearing will take place at London's High Court at the end of the month to decide whether Hall, who was jailed for life for stabbing to death Capel St Mary pensioner Joan Albert, should be granted leave for appeal.

CONVICTED murderer Simon Hall is to make a fresh bid for freedom, the East Anglian Daily Times can reveal.

A formal hearing will take place at London's High Court at the end of the month to decide whether Hall, who was jailed for life for stabbing to death Capel St Mary pensioner Joan Albert, should be granted leave for appeal.

It is the second time Hall, 25, has sought leave to appeal since he was given a life sentence at the High Court in April last year. A jury at Norwich Crown Court convicted him of murder on February 28, 2003

Last November, a single judge sitting in chambers rejected an application for leave to appeal against his conviction, which was lodged after his conviction.

It is believed Hall's legal team is now preparing to present fresh information on the case, which his family hopes will help prove his innocence.

In a letter to the East Anglian Daily Times, Hall has protested his innocence and described the case as “an awful miscarriage of justice”.

“It's disgusting and I need help to reverse it,” he wrote.

“I am not responsible for Mrs Albert's death, yet I have been in prison now for over 14 months, including remand time.”

A spokesman for Suffolk Constabulary confirmed yesterdayHall was seeking a fresh leave to appeal. The hearing is due to take place on April 22.

A website has been set up by Hall's family and friends to protest his innocence and to update his supporters of the progress on his bid for freedom.

Hall's family did not wish to comment on the new appeal application last night.

Hall, a former East Bergholt High School and Chantry Sixth Form pupil, of Hill House Road, Ipswich, was found guilty after a 12 day trial of murdering 79-year-old Mrs Albert at her home in Boydlands, Capel St Mary.

The elderly widow was discovered dead by a neighbour in the hallway of her home on December 16,2001.

She suffered stab wounds inflicted by a knife taken from the house.

Operation Magdala, the codename given to the hunt for Joan Albert's killer, was one of the largest investigations ever undertaken by Suffolk police.

At its peak, the operation involved more than 30 full-time officers and detectives took more than 1,800 statements and received more than 500 calls from the public.

They also carried out more than 5,800 actions - lines of inquiry where teams have been given specific tasks to address.

Hall has always protested his innocence of the pensioner's murder, claiming he was out drinking and clubbing in Ipswich on the night of the murder.

of Hill House Road, Ipswich,