Balloon launch for murder appeal

Timothy Caines was jailed in 1995

Supporters of a man serving life for the murder of a Coventry solicitor have released 490 balloons to represent every week he has spent in jail.

Timothy Caines, from Moseley, Birmingham, was jailed in 1995 for the murder of Colin Hickman who was stabbed outside his Earlsdon home.

Mr Caines has always maintained his innocence and his supporters hope the balloon launch will draw attention to their fight to have his case referred to the Court of Appeal.

The murder was witnessed by Mr Hickman's partner Vera Phillips Griffiths who has pushed for police to re-investigate the case because she is not convinced Caines delivered the fatal blows.

Mystery intruder

She believes that Caines and Mr Hickman were caught up in a multi-million pound loan shark scam and told police she saw a white man at the scene of the murder.

She told the BBC's Midlands Today programme: "Having met Tim, I don't think he's a man who could be capable of wielding the knife.

The balloons were released outside Rye Hill Prison

"I do believe myself that the white guy is the guy they should be looking out for."

Caines, who hired Mr Hickman because he was heavily in debt, is currently in Rye Hill prison near Rugby.

Contacted by telephone, Caines said that he had never denied being at the house, but said he did not know the mystery man's name.

"I don't know who he is. If I did know I would give his name, that's the first thing.

"And if I did know and I was covering for him I deserve to stay where I am."

The Criminal Cases Review Commission is due to take a fresh look at the conviction later in the year.