My life inside
By COLIN ADWENT – (Evening Star - Saturday 14 th of May 2005)
SIMON Hall today vowed to keep fighting to overturn his conviction for murder as he told of his life behind bars. Despite being found guilty of stabbing Joan Albert to death at her home in Boydlands, Capel St Mary, on December 16, 2001, Hall still strenuously denies killing the 79-year-old.
In an exclusive prison interview Hall, formerly of Hill House Road, Ipswich, thanked his supporters for the faith they continue to show in him. He also spoke of how he has been forced to come to terms with prison life.
Surrounded by the 40 or so numbered tables in the visitors' hall of HMP Dovegate, near Uttoxeter, Hall sat at a small white table attached to four plastic chairs. Like all the other inmates receiving visits he wore a green tabard and seated himself on a bright yellow chair while the remaining three blue ones were reserved for visitors.
Hall's face is thinner than it appears in the photographs taken before his trial, a consequence of the living conditions and strain he has been under for the past two years. Hall said: "When you go from doing what you want and doing it when you want, to being locked up in a room the size of a bathroom it destroys you." Although last year judges at The Royal Courts of Justice refused leave to appeal against his murder conviction, Hall's optimism has now returned with the news that the independent Criminal Cases Review Commission will look into his case.
Coverage in the media of the fight to clear his name and the website set up by his supporters have also seen a sea change in his spirits. "Twelve months ago I was at rock bottom. But now I am feeling very positive, because I can see things moving on in the right direction. The support of my family and friends means everything to me, but it is the strangers who leave messages about my case on the website which really gives me hope. "A year ago I was thinking I would be here for another 13 years. Now I'm hoping it will only be another two or three."
Asked directly whether he had killed Joan Albert, Hall replied: "No. I did not kill Mrs Albert. I am innocent." Hall's supporters contend there is doubt over the time of Mrs Albert's death and dispute fibres found at the murder scene are as rare as they were said to be at his trial. Hall himself has also put in a formal complaint to the Home Office relating to its pathologist Michael Heath who was involved in the murder investigation.
Hall moved to HMP Dovegate around six months ago from Wormwood Scrubs. Since his arrival he has found the atmosphere is less intimidating than at the notorious London jail. He also revealed that, in the past, he had been on the receiving end of abuse at times from other prisoners because of his conviction for killing the frail OAP. "It has been hard. There was some verbal and physical intimidation. It was more verbal than physical, but there were times were I had to stand up for myself. "I'm not insitutionalised but I am settled. I am here and I can't do anything about it, so I must get on with it. "You just have to go with it, because if I thought about the outside world I would go mad. I wouldn't be able to cope. "I am on the lifers' wing with murderers and rapists. The public expects them to look like monsters, but they look like normal people."
At 6ft 1in tall, the former Chantry High and East Bergholt High School pupil keeps himself in shape by training four days a week in the prison gymnasium. He is also able to play football, table tennis and badminton from time to time, as well as use the exercise yard. During his time in jail he has earned enhanced privileges for good behaviour. Now he is allowed to wear his own clothes and turned up for the interview wearing a dark blue sweatshirt, blue jeans and white trainers. Each weekday he gets up at 7.30am and works in HMP Dovegate's education department helping to teach English and Maths to fellow prisoners. At the weekends the inmates are given time to themselves. Hall, who worked for former power company 24seven, said he was also looking to apply to take a degree in accountancy as he seeks to keep his mind occupied. But the 27-year-old said the passage of time has been slow since he was convicted at Norwich Crown Court in February 2003. "Sometimes it feels like yesterday and sometimes it feels like it's been ten years. I still feel like I'm 24." While his family and friends continue with their lives beyond the prison's barbed wire-topped steel perimeter fencing, Hall said his outlook on the world can be surreal. "I look at it like there is a wood and one tree has been chopped down. While the others grow up around it, one is still missing. I think of my friends getting on with their lives and I'm still here. Time stands still. It's been tough."
Hall described the murder of Mrs Albert, a frail elderly pensioner with poor eyesight as "sick". He said he could barely take things in when the jury at his trial brought in the guilty verdict. The experience left him numb for some time afterwards. Hall said: "I just put my head in my hands. I couldn't believe it. I was in shock and despaired. "I'm a nice guy. I have always wanted people to think I am. I have been like that ever since I was little." He added he no longer has faith in the justice system and has concerns over what will happen as his legal challenge to conviction continues. Hall said: "My fear is that my case for appeal will be swept under the carpet."
He was also aware that his protestations of innocence and attempts to overturn his conviction will mean Mrs Albert's family will continue to be reminded of her murder. However Hall feels he has no option but to keep fighting. Hall said: "I know it must be hard for Mrs Albert's family when all this keeps getting brought up and they can't put it to rest, but I have to continue my fight. Even if I am released, all the publicity will start again. But I can't stop. I am not a killer."