Channel 4 is set to premiere a new true crime documentary series titled The Accused: Beyond Reasonable Doubt, which delves into cases where individuals are fighting to overturn their guilty verdicts. The first episode focuses on the case of Jason Moore, convicted in 2013 for the murder of his close friend Robert Darby. Darby, 42, died from a stab wound to the chest in a pub car park in Ilford, London, in 2005. Moore received a life sentence with a minimum of 18 years.
Jason Moore's Fight for Innocence
Moore has consistently maintained his innocence, and his family claims that new evidence has emerged that could exonerate him. The Criminal Case Review Commission (CCRC) confirmed they are reviewing the case. Robert Darby's brother, Tim, wrote an open letter to the CCRC, Prime Minister, and Justice Secretary, stating that the conviction is an insult to reason and fairness.
In the documentary, Moore's friend Sandra Dumont describes him as a 'gentle giant' who was skilled with numbers and earned his money through betting. The program also reveals that Moore had brief dates with Adele Raynor, who was in an on-again, off-again relationship with Darby.
Witness Testimony and Lack of Evidence
Journalist Charlie Thomson, who covered the case, describes Darby as having a hair-trigger temper. At the time of the murder, Darby was with friends, including Moore. A witness claimed to have seen the passenger of a silver BMW, where Moore was sitting, stab Darby. However, no DNA or other evidence supported this claim, yet a jury convicted Moore. The witness appears in the documentary.
Moore and his family went into hiding after the murder due to threats. When Moore returned seven years later to clear his name, he was identified in a second identity parade in 2012 and jailed the following year. Tim Darby expresses certainty that Moore is innocent, saying, "There's no way the geezer could have gone up against Robert. Jason Moore ain't a rower."
The Accused: Beyond Reasonable Doubt airs on Thursday, June 18, at 10pm on Channel 4 and channel4.com.
