A Conservative MP has backed calls for an investigation into an East End man’s continuing imprisonment for a murder he insists he did not commit.

Giles Watling MP has written a letter to be handed to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), encouraging them to reconsider Jason Moore’s case.

Jason, 53, from Canary Wharf, was sentenced to life in prison in 2013 for the murder of Robert Darby.

Since late 2021, Newsquest’s Investigations Unit has been reinvestigating his case.

In spring, this newspaper ran a series of exclusive reports raising doubts about the safety of his conviction.

New evidence uncovered by our reporting will be submitted in the coming weeks to the CCRC, the only body with the power to refer Jason’s case to the Court of Appeal.

Jason’s parents Jenny and Roy, from Clacton, sent all our reports to their local MP, Mr Watling.

In a letter to be included in the CCRC application, he wrote: “In light of the widespread doubt there appears to be in relation to this case, a review may help to ensure the judicial process cannot be called into question.”

Ilford Recorder: Conservative MP Giles Watling, from Essex, wrote in his letter that there was 'widespread doubt' about the safety of Jason Moore's murder conviction Conservative MP Giles Watling, from Essex, wrote in his letter that there was 'widespread doubt' about the safety of Jason Moore's murder conviction (Image: HM Govt)

Catch up on our exclusive investigation into Jason Moore's case:

Ilford Recorder: Robert Darby (right) died in 2005 after sustaining a single 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 releaseRobert Darby (right) died in 2005 after sustaining a single 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)

The news comes one week after cricket legend and government trade envoy Sir Ian Botham publicly called for Jason’s release, saying he “looks to be the victim of a miscarriage of justice”.

This newspaper broke the news of Lord Botham’s support for the campaign last week. It made national headlines in the following days.  

Robert, 42, from the Isle of Dogs, died in August 2005 after sustaining a single stab wound to the heart outside the Valentine pub in Perth Road, Ilford.

His older brother, Havering man Tim Darby, is one of the leaders of the campaign to overturn Jason’s conviction.

Jason was never forensically linked to Robert’s death and did not match descriptions of a man seen tussling with Robert moments before he was injured.

He was only picked out of a photo line-up as the killer by a single witness – but when Newsquest tracked down that witness, he claimed he was drunk at the time and was not sure he had picked the right person.