By John HowardTHE family of pensioner Joan Albert have dismissed an internet campaign launched to clear the name of the man convicted of her murder.Simon Hall, 25, of Hill House Road, Ipswich, will be sentenced on Friday for the killing of Mrs Albert.

By John Howard

THE family of pensioner Joan Albert have dismissed an internet campaign launched to clear the name of the man convicted of her murder.

Simon Hall, 25, of Hill House Road, Ipswich, will be sentenced on Friday for the killing of Mrs Albert.

He was convicted by an 11-1 majority verdict at Norwich Crown Court in February of murdering the 79-year-old widow at her home in Boydlands, Capel St Mary, on December 16, 2001.

Hall's legal team has already announced it will appeal against his conviction and a website has now been launched to help the fight to clear his name.

The internet site claimed there had been a miscarriage of justice and added campaigners would clear Hall's name.

It also aims to provide support for family, friends and followers of Hall – who is known as Teddy because of his penchant for designer clothes – and invites donations to keep the website running.

Mrs Albert's niece, Glynis Dzundza, from Ipswich, said she was still tying to put her aunt's horrific murder behind her and had no interest in the website.

"The jury convicted him and that's it. He is sentenced on Friday and that will be an end to it as far as I am concerned. We are still trying to put it behind us," she said.

Hall's parents Lynne and Phil, his brother Shaun and girlfriend Phoebe Grant are among the family and friends leading the campaign to overturn his conviction.

His mother, 54, of Snowcroft, Capel St Mary, said: "We want him to walk free – that's where he should be. I can look people in the eye and know my son is innocent. We believe somewhere out there the real killer is walking free, and that frightens us.

"Simon is very frustrated being where he is and feels just as much shock as us. He gets a lot of letters and writes lots to keep in touch with everybody. It helps him to know how much support there is for his case."

john.howard@eadt.co.uk