NEWS CHANNEL
Published: 21/11/2007 00:00 -
Updated: 05/02/2010 09:21
Barri White has spoken of his joy after judges quashed his life sentence for murdering 18-year-old girlfriend Rachel Manning.
Barri, 28, originally of Epsom Grove, Bletchley, was jailed in 2002 alongside co-defendant Keith Hyatt, 55, but on Thursday Appeal Court judges quashed the convictions on the basis of fresh forensic evidence.
Barri, his mother Sharon and Keith have spoken exclusively to MK NEWS about the case and what the future holds.
Rachel's disfigured body was found strangled in bushes at Woburn Golf and Country Club in December 2000, hours after a night out at a fancy dress party.
The case went nationwide three years after the pair were jailed, when BBC 1's Rough Justice uncovered new evidence and called for the convictions to be overturned.
At the Appeal Court last week ushers had to dust off the upstairs gallery to accommodate a crowd of supporters including family, friends and members from other "miscarriage of justice" cases. The pair were defended in court by Woodfines solicitors.
The court's decision was greeted by whoops of joy, along with tears, from the public gallery, where police officers and Rachel Manning's family also sat.
At 4.45pm on Friday, Barri was released from HMP Brixton, where he was jumped on by his family and friends, who threw him a welcome home party that night.
Speaking to MK NEWS on Monday Barri said: "I knew this day would come and it was just a matter of time.
"When you get released from jail the feeling you get when you're standing at those gates and the doors open is amazing.
"I'm still in shock and I keep asking people to pinch me.
"I'm happy because it's all over and I can't wait to get on with my life.
"Now I can go to my shop and buy cigarettes, have a beer or whatever I want."
Describing how she felt, Barri's mum Sharon said: "It's difficult to put into words. Inside my head I was screaming to everyone for years: 'he didn't do it!'.
"No one knows this man like I do so the relief was overwhelming that someone believed us."
Judges declared the convictions 'unsafe' and quashed them before the prosecution immediately moved for a retrial for both and this was then ordered by the court for Barri but not Keith.
Keith, who lived in Bedford at the time of Rachel's death, was cleared, having already served two-and-a-half years for perverting the course of justice. Barri was released home on conditional bail, having already served five years.
Keith said: "It's a weight off my shoulders now.
"We want people in Milton Keynes to know the truth."
The Crown Prosecution Service now has two months to decide if there is enough evidence to support Barri's retrial.
Because of the retrial, the detailed reasons for the Court of Appeal's decision cannot be reported.
Sharon, 46, said: "For every second he was locked up I felt as if I was locked up with him.
"Every time I look at him this side of prison walls my heart just jumps, I can't believe I'm looking at him.
"It's going to take him a while to adjust but it's going to be the best Christmas ever.
"Barri always believed this would end and he always said 'mum, I didn't do this'.
"My motto through this has been 'if the truth comes out so will Barri'."
By coincidence the nation was following the Barry George appeal which was being heard in the next court room and Sharon spoke with Mr George's sister after his conviction for murdering the television presenter Jill Dando was quashed.
"She said she was very pleased for us," said Sharon.
"She's another amazing woman who is fighting for an injustice."
Barri is now staying with his uncle in Wolverton but his bail conditions prevent him from seeing some of his closest friends.
However, he owes his early release to support from unexpected friends, including more than 5,000 who sent letters to a website dedicated to securing his freedom.
Barri said: "My cousin sent me emails from random people offering support after the Rough Justice programme.
"I was allowed to keep a video of the Rough Justice programme and everyone came into my cell to watch it, even the officers.
"I watched it at least 15 times and the support from the letters made a difference to me.
"In jail they told me 'keep your head high it's going to end soon'.
"I'm not angry, I'm still a young man, but it's still six years of my life.
Now I hope justice happens and they find the person who did it.
"MK NEWS has been great for really following the case the whole way."
Barri is looking forward to playing in goal for his new football team and going swimming with his friends.
He said: "It's so good to be able to do things again, things you don't think of, like chewing gum and using a metal fork.
"I've gone 'prison-pale' so I want a holiday somewhere hot now."
While the Manning family face a traumatic period of uncertainty, Barri's mother and Keith expressed their frustration.
Sharon said: "Rachel's family have shown dignity all the way through.
"We want what they want; we want the killer behind bars as much as they do.
"Rachel's killer is not Barri or Keith - I hope they know that now in their hearts.
"They had to trust the police, who are here to protect us, but your trust disappears.
"I hope this pressures the police to find the real killer.
"We want to work alongside them to bring the killer to justice.
"Justice has to be done for Rachel otherwise all this will have been for nothing."
Keith added: "I've said to MP Phyllis Starkey that I'm not angry with the police but if the police are going to do a job then do it properly and if you make a mistake you've got to say we're really sorry we've made a mistake."
A statement from Thames Valley Police said: "The Force will now work closely with the Crown Prosecution Service to collate evidence which will be put before the court when Barri White's retrial starts."
After the original trial Rachel Manning's family said they felt 'sickened and angered by the defence for the notion that police had not conducted a proper investigation', and a police source told MK NEWS in 2004: "We felt it was a cast-iron conviction."
The Manning family declined to comment.
Barri, his mother Sharon and Keith have spoken exclusively to MK NEWS about the case and what the future holds.
Rachel's disfigured body was found strangled in bushes at Woburn Golf and Country Club in December 2000, hours after a night out at a fancy dress party.
The case went nationwide three years after the pair were jailed, when BBC 1's Rough Justice uncovered new evidence and called for the convictions to be overturned.
At the Appeal Court last week ushers had to dust off the upstairs gallery to accommodate a crowd of supporters including family, friends and members from other "miscarriage of justice" cases. The pair were defended in court by Woodfines solicitors.
The court's decision was greeted by whoops of joy, along with tears, from the public gallery, where police officers and Rachel Manning's family also sat.
At 4.45pm on Friday, Barri was released from HMP Brixton, where he was jumped on by his family and friends, who threw him a welcome home party that night.
Speaking to MK NEWS on Monday Barri said: "I knew this day would come and it was just a matter of time.
"When you get released from jail the feeling you get when you're standing at those gates and the doors open is amazing.
"I'm still in shock and I keep asking people to pinch me.
"I'm happy because it's all over and I can't wait to get on with my life.
"Now I can go to my shop and buy cigarettes, have a beer or whatever I want."
Describing how she felt, Barri's mum Sharon said: "It's difficult to put into words. Inside my head I was screaming to everyone for years: 'he didn't do it!'.
"No one knows this man like I do so the relief was overwhelming that someone believed us."
Judges declared the convictions 'unsafe' and quashed them before the prosecution immediately moved for a retrial for both and this was then ordered by the court for Barri but not Keith.
Keith said: "It's a weight off my shoulders now.
"We want people in Milton Keynes to know the truth."
The Crown Prosecution Service now has two months to decide if there is enough evidence to support Barri's retrial.
Because of the retrial, the detailed reasons for the Court of Appeal's decision cannot be reported.
Sharon, 46, said: "For every second he was locked up I felt as if I was locked up with him.
"Every time I look at him this side of prison walls my heart just jumps, I can't believe I'm looking at him.
"It's going to take him a while to adjust but it's going to be the best Christmas ever.
"Barri always believed this would end and he always said 'mum, I didn't do this'.
"My motto through this has been 'if the truth comes out so will Barri'."
By coincidence the nation was following the Barry George appeal which was being heard in the next court room and Sharon spoke with Mr George's sister after his conviction for murdering the television presenter Jill Dando was quashed.
"She said she was very pleased for us," said Sharon.
"She's another amazing woman who is fighting for an injustice."
Barri is now staying with his uncle in Wolverton but his bail conditions prevent him from seeing some of his closest friends.
However, he owes his early release to support from unexpected friends, including more than 5,000 who sent letters to a website dedicated to securing his freedom.
Barri said: "My cousin sent me emails from random people offering support after the Rough Justice programme.
"I was allowed to keep a video of the Rough Justice programme and everyone came into my cell to watch it, even the officers.
"I watched it at least 15 times and the support from the letters made a difference to me.
"In jail they told me 'keep your head high it's going to end soon'.
"I'm not angry, I'm still a young man, but it's still six years of my life.
Now I hope justice happens and they find the person who did it.
"MK NEWS has been great for really following the case the whole way."
Barri is looking forward to playing in goal for his new football team and going swimming with his friends.
He said: "It's so good to be able to do things again, things you don't think of, like chewing gum and using a metal fork.
"I've gone 'prison-pale' so I want a holiday somewhere hot now."
While the Manning family face a traumatic period of uncertainty, Barri's mother and Keith expressed their frustration.
Sharon said: "Rachel's family have shown dignity all the way through.
"We want what they want; we want the killer behind bars as much as they do.
"Rachel's killer is not Barri or Keith - I hope they know that now in their hearts.
"They had to trust the police, who are here to protect us, but your trust disappears.
"I hope this pressures the police to find the real killer.
"We want to work alongside them to bring the killer to justice.
"Justice has to be done for Rachel otherwise all this will have been for nothing."
Keith added: "I've said to MP Phyllis Starkey that I'm not angry with the police but if the police are going to do a job then do it properly and if you make a mistake you've got to say we're really sorry we've made a mistake."
A statement from Thames Valley Police said: "The Force will now work closely with the Crown Prosecution Service to collate evidence which will be put before the court when Barri White's retrial starts."
After the original trial Rachel Manning's family said they felt 'sickened and angered by the defence for the notion that police had not conducted a proper investigation', and a police source told MK NEWS in 2004: "We felt it was a cast-iron conviction."
The Manning family declined to comment.
