MP backs compensation claim

Mr Poole and Mr Mills [right] were wrongly convicted

Two men who were jailed for 14 years for a murder they did not commit are receiving parliamentary support for their compensation claim.

Gary Mills, 43, and Tony Poole, 41, protested their innocence since they were jailed in 1990 for a fatal stabbing at a flat in Gloucester.

The men walked free from the appeal court in June, but have yet to receive compensation.

Now their MP, Parmjit Dhanda, has raised the case in the Commons. The Labour MP pointed out some people were waiting up to 180 days before their eligibility for compensation could be assessed.

Leader of the Commons, Peter Hain, promised Home Secretary David Blunkett would look into the case.

The pair have always protested their innocence, but refused the chance to be released on licence until their case was re-examined by the courts.

In June they said they would be seeking compensation and pushing for a full inquiry into Gloucestershire Police.