Freed Scot 'fancies a jacuzzi'

Robert Brown was freed by appeal judges

Robert Brown stressed he was not bitter as he walked free 25 years after being jailed for a murder he maintained he did not commit.

The 45-year-old's conviction was quashed on Wednesday by Court of Appeal judges who ruled that it could not be regarded as safe.

As he left the court Mr Brown, originally from Drumchapel in Glasgow, said he was looking forward to rebuilding his life as quickly as possible.

The truth prevails and I think over the last 12 or 15 months the whole of Britain knew I was innocent

Robert Brown

"I'm a pretty well-balanced, level-headed individual," he told waiting reporters.

"I'm going to take things easy - I fancy a jacuzzi."

Mr Brown was jailed for life in 1977 for killing 51-year-old Manchester spinster Annie Walsh after confessing to the crime.

However, he always claimed he was the victim of a miscarriage of justice because police had bullied him into signing a false confession.

Speaking outside the London court where he won his freedom, he said: "It has been like living in an abyss of hell.

Depth of anger

"It has been an absolute nightmare. That is a bit of a cliché, but words cannot convey what I have been through and what other miscarriage of justice cases are going through."

However, he stressed: "I am not bitter. I am not angry.

"I had a depth of anger and it has diminished.

"The truth prevails and I think over the last 12 or 15 months the whole of Britain knew I was innocent.

Annie Walsh was battered to death

"Every prisoner in every prison in Britain knew I was innocent.

"The support I have had from prisoners and some prison staff have been overwhelming."

Mr Brown said he would have to sit down with his lawyers before deciding whether to pursue compensation.

"Money will not compensate me for the loss of my life.

"It will not compensate my mother and it will not compensate the victim or the victim's family.

"They have been forgotten in all this, they have not received justice," he said.

Buried documentation

"Today was not a victory for justice.

"My conviction is an indictment against the whole criminal justice system.

"They buried documentation for almost 20 years that could have cleared my name."

Mr Brown said he would never have given up trying to clear his name.

They could have let me out on bail in July but they didn't show me any compassion

Robert Brown

"I would have fought this for the next 25 years if I'd had to.

"It's nothing to do with freedom, it's to do with justice, liberty and truth."

Mr Brown also paid tribute to his 75-year-old mother Margaret's "loving strength".

"I have just spoken to her. She's overwhelmed by emotion but she's happy and looking forward to us spending some time together.

"They could have let me out on bail in July but they didn't show me any compassion, any humanity even during my mother's illness - and that absolutely disgusted me."