Sheila Bowler

Years in prison:
4
Year of crime:
1992
Year conviction was overturned:
1997

Sheila Bowler was found guilty of the murder of her late husband’s aunt, Florrie Jackson. Sheila had recently become the beneficiary of Florrie’s will and as such police had reason to believe she killed her. Sheila claimed she had collected Florrie from her nursing home but on the way home had car issues and had walked to a house to find help. Florrie then vanished and her body was found by police in a river 800 yards from where she went missing. Police found it unlikely Florrie would have been able to walk to the river and so ruled out accidental drowning. On appeal, evidence was introduced from experts who stated that although unlikely it would not have been impossible for Florrie (who had mobility issues) to walk to the river. Evidence was also introduced from Florrie’s GP who felt that Florrie was more active and better able to walk than the trial suggested. The conviction was quashed, and Sheila was found not guilty at a retrial.

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  • Offence: Murder
  • Jurisdiction: England & Wales
  • County: East Sussex 
  • Ethnicity: White
  • Gender: F
  • Years in prison: 4
  • Offence convicted of: Murder
  • Year of crime: 1992
  • Year of initial conviction: 1993
  • Year conviction was overturned: 1997
  • Age when imprisoned: 62
  • CCRC Referral: N
  • Tried with others: N
  • Link to full case: http://www.homepage-link.to/justice/Bowler/index.htm
  • Compensation: Unknown
  • Crown argued case at CofA: Yes
  • Retrial: Yes
  • Previous appeals: Unsuccessful appeal in 1995

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