Essex boys murderers in new bid for freedom

Their bodies were found in a Range Rover parked in a remote farm track in Rettendon, Essex, on the morning of December 7 1995. The slayings have been the subject of several British gangster

feature films, which have speculated about what actaully happened. Whomes, from Brockford, Suffolk, and Steele, of from Great Bentley, Essex, were involved in drug deals with the murdered

gangsters but have always denied killing them. The pair have launched a new bid for freedom with an application to the Criminal Case Review Commission (CCRC) based on claims of

non-disclosure of evidence before the trial. Police and Crown Prosecution Service non-disclosure of evidence is currently being looked at in an inquiry by MPs on the Justice Committee after

a series of rape prosecutions collapsed due to late disclosure of unused evidence that supported the defence cases. ESSEX BOYS THE TRUTH TRAILER RELATED ARTICLES > At the trial we wanted 

everything that was unused as evidence, but > it turns out we were never given everything, and we now have got > that. >  > John Whomes Whome's and Steele's prosecution

was based around the word of supergrass Darren Nicholls, 49, another Essex Boys gang member who was placed into witness protection after claiming in court he was their getaway driver after

the murders. It also centred on phone records which placed Whomes and Steele in the area and in contact with Tate in the run up to the killings. Whomes brother, John Whomes, 56, from Eye,

Suffolk, told the Sunday Express newly-disclosed phone evidence formed part of the fresh action. He said: "At the trial we wanted everything that was unused as evidence, but it turns

out we were never given everything, and we now have got that. "I am 110 per cent sure that the non-disclosure will take us to an immediate appeal." RELATED ARTICLES Mr Whomes said

the new material could fill a shed or a room of ten metres by eight. He added: "It includes everything even soil samples from the scene and from boots and tyres. "We are more than

delighted, it is coming up to 23 years now, but I have said we will win, because I will fight to the death and we are getting near the end." Solicitor David Wells, of Wells Burcombe,

who is representing the pair, tweeted: "Jack Whomes and Michael Steele, the so called ‘Essex boys’ convicted of the Rettendon murders in 1998, have both today formally requested the

CCRC to review their convictions based on significant non-disclosure. In discussions with another Twitter user, he added: "The application to the CCRC is very well timed." THE

BLUNDELLS WARN ‘ESSEX BOYS’ CLIP RELATED ARTICLES The CCRC has to accept new applications, but if no new evidence is contained it could quickly be dismissed. The CCRC previously referred the

case for appeal in 2004, but the court upheld the convictions. In the mid 2000s the CCRC looked at another application, but did not refer the case to court. Then in 2015, another approach

to the CCRC was rejected as was a subsequent court bid to overturn that decision. A CCRC spokesman said: "A new application for Messrs Steele and Whomes arrived this week. "We have

just received it and will be considering it shortly." A CPS spokesman said the CCRC had not notified it and declined to comment. An Essex Police spokeswoman said: "We will await

the nature and specifics of the appeal where they will be given fullest consideration."