Mum's 'nightmare' at an end

As solicitor Sally Clark is cleared by the Court of Appeal of murdering her two sons, more than two years after she began a life sentence, BBC News Online looks at the day her ordeal came to an end.

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Wednesday 29 January 2003

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Sally Clark always denied smothering
her children

Sally Clark was convicted in 1998. Three judges at the Court of Appeal have now ruled that the conviction was "unsafe", after hearing that evidence at the original trial had been misleading.

John Sweeney explains how flawed evidence sent a grieving mother to prison

Catherine Marston on the effect the case has had on Sally's husband Stephen

Rory Maclean reports on the background to the case

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"We have all lost out"

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Speaking outside the Court of Appeal, Mrs Clark told of her relief, and asked that she and her husband be given some privacy to "grieve for our little boys".

Sally Clark speaks

Sally's husband Stephen Clark tells
of how they secured his wife's release

Solicitor for Mrs Clark, Mike Mackie:
"Sally is a resillient spirit"

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"Not a fair trial"

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Marilyn Stowe

Judges ruled that the jury who convicted Mrs Clark did not hear evidence which could have influenced them. Solicitor Marilyn Stowe, who obtained a key medical report for Sally's appeal, told of her relief.

Marilyn Stowe: "I've been very nervous"

Local MP for the Clark family,
George Osborne: "It's fantastic news"

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"Verdict was very suspect"

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Dr David Drucker

Judges singled out medical evidence given at her first trial for criticism in their ruling. Microbiologist Dr David Drucker, who has helped to identify a 'cot death gene', became involved in Mrs Clark's case because he was concerned about statistical evidence used against her.

Dr David Drucker: "Losing two children isn't as rare as jurors were led to believe"

Anne Diamond, whose son died from cot death: "She has a lot of grieving to do"