A bestselling crime author has joined calls to release a prisoner serving a life sentence for a murder he insists he did not commit.
Kimberley Chambers was among the celebrity guests at an “East End knees-up” held by the Free Jason Moore campaign.
Jason, from Canary Wharf, is serving life for the 2005 Ilford murder of Robert Darby.
He was charged after being picked from a line-up by a single eyewitness, who has since admitted to this newspaper that he was “drunk” and doesn’t know if he identified the right person.
No forensics ever linked Jason to the killing and even the victim’s family believe he is innocent.
John Ratomski, from Irons Food Banks, poses with British boxing legend Michael Watson at last week's Free Jason Moore event. Irons Food Banks is supported by West Ham FC and its fans (Image: Irons Food Banks)
Boxer Michael Watson – famous for bouts against Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank – signed autographs at Poplar’s Festival Inn on Saturday (August 10), as did crime writers Terry Ellis, Linda Calvey, Donna Siggers, David Last and Mrs Chambers.
The event raised enough money to buy more than a tonne of food for Irons Food Banks – a charity backed by West Ham FC and its fans.
“Obviously, the man is wrongly accused,” said Dagenham-born Mrs Chambers, a former Romford market trader turned Sunday Times number one bestselling novelist.
“It’s a terrible case of injustice. It’s a joke.”
Pointing out that Robert Darby’s own brother Tim, from Havering, was at Saturday’s event, she added: “That says it all. No one wants to see anyone wrongly banged up, so the more support he gets, the better. It’s bang out of order.”
She later added on Twitter: "I do hope Jason's lovely family get the justice they deserve."
A top evening was had at #TheFestivalInn #Poplar last night in aid of an extremely worthwhile cause. Also had a good catch up with my mucker and fellow author, Linda Calvey - I do hope Jason’s lovely family get the justice they deserve #FreeJasonMoore 🙏 pic.twitter.com/SUAmkKhDGH
— Kimberley Chambers (@kimbochambers) August 11, 2024
Others backing Jason include cricketer Sir Ian Botham, football commentator Alan Brazil, bestselling author Syd Moore and former Iron Maiden musician Dennis Stratton.
John Ratomski, from Irons Food Banks, is also a supporter, having met Jason’s sister Kirstie through Linda Calvey.
The charity works with more than 80 food banks, community groups and homeless centres across east London and Essex and has distributed over £250,000 worth of food and £1million in new clothes in three years.
“With Jason Moore, it’s snowballing even more now and so many people are on board,” he said.
“We’re pleased Kirstie was able to make sure we got the proceeds, particularly as we’ve not had any games for three months to collect at.”
The families of Jason Moore and his supposed victim Robert Darby came together on Saturday. Here, Jason's sister Kirstie and Robert's brother Tim stand either side of John Ratomski, from Irons Food Banks (Image: Charles Thomson)
On Sunday (August 11), Jason’s case was the top story on BBC’s London TV news for the second time in a year.
The Bishop of Stepney is calling for government intervention over Jason’s ongoing imprisonment.
“If somebody can be in prison for that, on this evidence, then any of us can be in prison,” she told the BBC.
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