Michelle Taylor

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Lisa and Michelle Taylor were convicted of the murder of Alison O’Shaughnessy. Alison’s husband, John, had been having an affair with Michelle. Michele and Lisa were reportedly seen at a clinic four miles from Alison’s home at 6pm on the day of the murder. A witness, Dr. Michael Unsworth-White, claimed he had seen Lisa and Michelle running down the steps from O’Shaughnessy’s house at 5.45pm. There was also evidence from Michele’s diary where she had written “my dream solution would be for Alison to disappear, as if she never existed.” Forensic evidence was also introduced, including a blood stain inside one of the defendant’s jackets. At appeal it transpired that the police had suppressed evidence making clear that key witnesses, including Dr. Unsworth-White had altered their accounts (e.g. from them being white women to one being black and walking rather than running from the house). There were also doubts raised about the reliability of forensic evidence, and it was found that the press influenced the jury decision.

View Press (www.independent.co.uk)

View Press (www.independent.co.uk)

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