The Criminal Cases Review Commission has referred the kidnapping and blackmail convictions of John and Gerard Lane to the Court of Appeal.
Brothers John and Gerard Lane were accused of kidnapping Mr Brett Hinsley from his home in Sutton Coldfield on 26th May 1997 and demanding money from him.
They pleaded not guilty but were convicted at Birmingham Crown Court on 28th September 1998 and each sentenced to a total of seven year’s imprisonment.
Messrs Lane and Lane appealed against the conviction but their appeal was dismissed in August 1999. They applied to the Commission for a review of their convictions in October 2007 and November 2007 respectively.
Following a detailed investigation of the case, the Commission has decided to refer the convictions to the Court of Appeal because it considers that material non-disclosure raises the real possibility that the Court would quash the convictions as unsafe.
