Friends of Susan May's Journal

Adjournment Debate in Parliament
We are very excited to report that Michael Meacher's Adjournent Debate was delivered to the House of Commons on Wednesday 23 November 2005.
Click Here to read the official transcipt.

Follow-up feature in She Magazine
Another big thank-you to Kathy Watson for a great follow-up feature on Susan in the June 05 issue of She. As with the January article, the writing is spot on regarding Susan’s feelings about being released on parole without her name being cleared. And once again, the article is highlighted in the Editor’s Letter at the beginning of the magazine. Such support from a periodical as prestigious as She is really encouraging. Do get a copy if you’ve not read it yet.
A big thanks also to all the press and media who covered Susan's release day so fully and sympathetically.
Geoff and all at FOSM

Word from Sue
This is my first entry since release. A huge thank you to all who sent messages of support, flowers and phonecalls. I am finding the transition difficult. But that is to be expected - you cannot live a structured life, as prison is, and just fit back into life outside as though nothing had happened. My main priority is to press on with the case, I know I can,t relax until I am back in the Court of Appeal and my conviction is quashed. Paddy Hill and Paul Blackburn have both phoned me knowing exactly how I felt - like an alien really! That is despite being surrounded by loved ones. It helps to speak with others who have experienced the pain of wrongful convictions. I hope to be back on line soon with updates but for now thanks again, lots of love, Sue.

Out at last
Make sure you press the F5 button to see the latest site updates.
Tonight Susan will stay in her own house and sleep in her own bed, there will be no lock on the door and it will feel strange. We are so glad to have her back in the familiar surroundings with children and grandchildren close to hand.
But the fight goes on. We would particularly ask those who have inside information about the real killer to contact us at this site or Susan's solicitor(see the contacts page). Please do get in touch to bring this thirteen-year nightmare to an end.
Thanks to everyone who has supported Sue over all these years. Do continue to give her your support until her name is cleared.
Its been a great day, thanks again to all who have been involved.
Kind regards everyone,
Geoff, Dorothy and SUSAN.

Time change
If coming to Askham Grange please be there for 9 am.
If coming to our house come from 11 am.
'Don't panic.'
Geoff

Release Date Confirmed
Sue is to be released NEXT TUESDAY, 26 April 2005 at approximately 10 am.
The arrangements are as we said previously. Adam, Susan's elder son, will bring her out through the prison gates where any friends and press may greet her. She has a short statement prepared for the press after which she will come back to our house(12 Thornham Old Road Royton Oldham OL2 5UN) to meet with friends and speak to the press in a hopefully relaxed atmosphere. As well as local media and others BBC North West and Granada are both wanting to do live interviews. If you would like to come either to Askham Grange Prison, Askham Richard Nr York (M62 to Junc 29, left up M1 and on to A1(M) exit at Junc 45 on A64 to York, Look out for sign for Askham Richard on left. Approx one and a half hours from Royton with no hold ups)or see Sue back at our house at about noon, you will be most welcome.
I know how much Sue has valued all the support she has received whilst in Prison. Please do continue to give her your support now she is coming home.
I must confess to feeling somewhat excited at the prospect of having Sue back with us in Royton - role on Tuesday.
With warm and kind regards
Geoff Goodwin

Release Date
Susan has been told by the prison governor that she will be released on Thursday 5th May 2005. There is, however, a possibility that she could be released earlier if Oldham police supply details to the Home Office of her time in Oldham police custody; a period of eleven days.This would,
effectively, bring forward her releaase date to 25/26 April but to date Oldham police have not responded to requests for this information.
We do not know the actual time of her release but provisional plans for the day are for Adam, Susan's elder son, to bring her out through the prison gates where any friends and press may greet her. She has a short statement
prepared for the press after which she will come back to our house(12Thornham Old Road Royton Oldham) to meet with friends and speak to the press in a hopefully relaxed atmosphere.
Keep watching this space
Kind regards
Geoff

Susan's release
Susan has just been informed by the Home Office that they have confirmed the Parole Board's decision to release her at the end of her sentence. No date has been given and Sue has not been informed by letter but simply a phone call to the prison. Apparently the Home Office staff are very busy!
Will keep you updated as soon as we know the actual day.
Kind regards
to all.
Geoff

She Magazine
On behalf of Susan and the Friends of Susan May can I say a very big thank you to all who wrote to 'She' magazine. Your response was 'overwhelming'. Thanks again to Kathy and Terry for running the story so enthusiastically. Please keep Sue in your thoughts and prayers - eleven and a half years is a long time.

Help
Can I please ask the following students who have signed the petition to contact me;
Judith Aldridge of Kent Law School,
Rebecca Jones, Ashley Pead, Sarah Koser, Mike McCullough of Worcester and Emma Banks, Kelly Ratcliffe of Worcester.
I would be really interested to know what angle you have been looking at Susan's case from.
Thanks
geoffgoodwin@gmail.com
Kind regards
Geoff

Article in She Magazine
A big thanks to Kathy Watson for writing a great feature on Susan in Jan 05s edition of She. Thanks for taking the time and trouble to get your head round all the complex issues and producing such an accurate all round informative presentation of the miscarriage of justice that Susan has suffered now for nearly twelve years. Please get a copy and check it out.
Thanks also to the Editor,Terry Tavner, for the mention in the Ed's letter and the offer to forward any correspondence sent to She to the Home Secretary. Please write to The Editor, She, National Magazine Company, 72 Broadwick Street, London, W1F 9EP or Email to, SusanMaycampaign@natmags.co.uk
Have a good Christmas
Geoff and all at FOSM

Press Conference at Parliament
The Press Conference hosted by Michael Meacher and John McDonnell at the House of Commons on the 13 July highlighting the Paisley University forensic science student's report proved a great success. Michael spoke on the report, Geoff spoke about other forensic concerns, Adam read a statement from Susan and made his own plea, Dot spoke as an old freiend and long tom campaigner and John put the whole thing in context saying "it has gone on too long, it is now cruel what is being done to Susan". A number of MP,s joined us and Jean Corston MP, who was involved in the setting up of the Criminal Cases Review Commission, ask to speak and also shared her serious concern about the safety of Susan's conviction. Thanks to all who helped make the day the great success that it was. Apart from national TV all sections of the media covered the story in a very positive light and we thank them for this.
Following the Press Conference, Michael, John and Jean have contacted David Blunket to request an urgent meeting with him. They will ask that Susan be released immediately pending a referral back to the Court of Appeal by the CCRC.
Please write to the Home Secretary at this time in support of this delegation.
Thanks everyone for your continued support of Susan. Her health is not so bad at the moment but it would of course be all the better for being home with her children and grandchildren.
Kind regards
Geoff

Parliamentary Friends
Just a note to welcome Phil Woolas MP as a new Parliamentary Friend. We appreciate it that local people of influence are expressing their concern at the safety of Susan's conviction. As more and more people of influence become engaged in the struggle to overcome this miscarriage of justice we must surely see Susan set free.
Watch this space for an announcement of a soon to be called press conference at the House of Commons hosted by Michael Meacher and John McDonnell.

Granada Reports
Many thanks to Granada Reports for making Susan's case their top story on the 5 May. Thanks also to Michael Meacher, Susan's MP, for his interview on the program. He outlined the issues relating to the none disclosure of the finding of the red care really well and went on to demonstrate the weakness of the forensic issue. Thanks also to Adam, Susan's eldest son, for speaking out for his mum.

Just a quick note to thank everyone who has signed the petition. If you haven't signed yet, please sign today, not forgetting to make a brief comment.

Experts - Ten a Penny
“There’s a bloody handprint on the wall …. When tested by the application of a chemical by Mr Hussain it reacted exactly as a scientist would expect blood to react … it reacted exactly as a scientist would expect blood to react … Mr Hussain, the scientist, concluded that it was blood.” So said the Judge to the jury in his Summing Up Speech page 31 F-G. The trouble is that Mr Hussain is not an expert in the field of blood analysis, his expertise is in the field of Fingerprint Enhancement and Detection (see page 1 of his evidence in chief on the campaign leaflet ‘Prosecution Scientist – Part 1). This was the 'main plank' of the prosecution's case.
Experts are prostituting themselves to the police and the CPS who are the highest bidders.
If the above concerns you, please write to the Home Secretary, Home Office, Queen Anne’s Gate, London, SW1 9AT and The Complaints Manager at Forensic Science Service, Priory House, Gooch Street North, Birmingham, B5 6QQ and The DPP, Crown Prosecution Service 50 Ludgate Hill London EC4M 7EY

Tribute to Margaret Riley by Susan
Today I received some very sad news - Rob Riley wrote to me to say his mum had died suddenly.
Margaret has been a loyal supporter and a true friend and I will miss her interesting, newsy and amusing letters, which came with pleasant regularity.
What is poignant - along with Rob's sad news today, I also received two letters from Margaret. She had been on holiday in Jordan and wrote me daily from there, telling me simply everything about her trip.
My sympathies go to Rob and the family. Margaret will be missed by all who knew her and for the work she did for the people of Oldham.
Sue May
We at FOSM would also like to add our note of appreciation for all that Margret did for Sue, not least for greatly brightening up and enlivening our trips to London with her personable charm and wit.
We send our love to all Margaret's family and friends at this very sad time from all at FOSM.
Geoff Goodwin and Dorothy Cooksey.

Health concerns
Dear Friends
This month (22 November ) Susan will spend her eleventh Birthday in prison. Likewise this Christmas will be the eleventh Christmas away from family and friends.
FOSM are concerned about Susan's health. She has been diagnosed with a thyroid problem and whilst the medication she has been receiving has been withdrawn alternative treatment or medication has yet to be prescribed. Consequently Susan is suffering the most debilitating symptoms. For the first time since being in prison she has had to take time off work sick. She is finding it increasingly difficult to cope.
FOSM fervently hope that Susan will soon receive the news she and we all await with such hope - news that the CCRC is to refer her case to the Court of Appeal.
Thank you for your continued support and kindness, which gives Susan much comfort and strength. Your support is especially needed at this difficult and stressful time for her.

Prison visit by my wife Janet.
Dorothy, Dot and I visited Susan last week just after her move to Askham Grange, an open prison. To our relief, not only has her initial cleaning job been changed to gardening but she has also been moved to a single room from a dormitory, which was making work on her case impossible. It felt strangely unsettling to walk in through wide open gates and doors, without running the now familiar gauntlet of body searches, bag and coat confiscation, and drug detecting sniffer dogs. If the change had that effect on us, the unnerving impact on Susan must be immense after a 10-year regime of relentless locked doors.

It was great to be with Susan, who was as personable and outgoing as ever and always ready with her sunny smile. However, she is feeling the strain of yet again being a square peg in a round hole: being pressurised to ‘jump through hoops’ to meet drug-taking and re-offending targets, when she has never taken drugs nor has she ever murdered anyone.

As usual the progress of her case with the CCRC was discussed for much of the 2-hour visit and she made lots of notes. But as usual humour was never far away. One of these days we really will get thrown out early for laughing too much.

Parliamentary Friends
I have just received an Email from John McDonnell MP who tells me that the number of PF's since the 20 May has risen to 97. I am absolutely staggered.
Thanks to John and the team and all who have contacted their MP. 24 are from the House of Lords.
Welcome to all you new members, as ever don't forget to mention Susan often.
Thanks again
Geoff

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