Ilford murder: Ashes legend Ian Botham backs Free Jason Moore campaign

Sir Ian, who sits in the House of Lords, has issued a statement calling for Jason Moore’s release.

“I am 100 percent behind the campaign to free Jason,” he said. “Let’s get the big boy out.”

Sir Ian knew Jason, a passionate cricket fan from Canary Wharf, before he was jailed in 2013 for the 2005 murder of Robert Darby outside the Valentine pub in Perth Road, Ilford.

Robert’s older brother Tim, from Havering, is one of the leaders of the campaign to overturn Jason’s conviction.

In the spring, Newsquest’s Investigations Unit published a series of articles that raised questions about Jason’s conviction.

Jason was never forensically linked to the crime. Only one eyewitness identified him as the murderer.

But Jason did not fit the description the witness gave the day of the man he saw arguing with Robert.

Weeks after the incident, the witness was even shown Jason’s photo and did not recognize him.

However, seven years later, the witness took part in another lineup that experts say should never have been allowed. Only then did he choose Jason as the murderer.

When Newsquest found the witness, he claimed he was “drunk” when he saw the incident and reported this to police.

If this is true, it was withheld from the defense.

The witness told us he wasn’t sure he had identified the right person.

Robert Darby (right) died in 2005 after suffering a stab wound to the heart outside the Valentine pub in Gants Hill. His older brother Tim (left) from Havering believes Jason Moore is innocent of his brother’s murder and is fighting for his release (Image: Charles Thomson / Met Police)

Check out our exclusive investigation into the Jason Moore case:

Newsquest’s investigation into Jason Moore’s sentencing led to two protests outside the High Court in central London (Image: Charles Thomson)

Our reports sparked two protests outside the Royal Courts of Justice demanding Jason’s release.

Now former England cricketer Sir Ian has joined the choir.

“I have known Jason for a number of years because of our love of cricket and sport in general,” he said.

“He appears to be the victim of a miscarriage of justice and his case needs to be re-investigated.”

Sir Ian was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2007 and appointed to the House of Lords by Boris Johnson in 2020.

He is the government’s trade envoy to Australia.

Aristocrat and justice activist Lord Nicholas Monson has also previously supported the Free Jason Moore movement.

Jason’s sister Kirstie said: “This is a huge boost for the campaign. People like Sir Ian wouldn’t get involved and risk their reputations if they weren’t sure the evidence supported Jason’s innocence.”