UNE academics call for review of 1988 murder conviction

Academics from the University of New England are supporting a petition to the New South Wales Parliament to review the 1988 abduction, rape, and murder of Janine Balding in Sydney. The experts believe that Stephen “Shorty” Jamieson, who is serving a life sentence, may have been wrongfully convicted.

Linguistics and law academics, including Associate Professor Diana Eades, Dr. Sally Dixon, Dr. Cindy Schneider, and Dr. Laura Smith-Kahn, argue that new linguistic and DNA evidence could exonerate Jamieson. During the original proceedings, other individuals involved allegedly stated that authorities had “got the wrong Shorty.”

Solicitor Peter Breen has sought DNA testing from the Supreme Court, noting that an unknown male DNA profile has been identified. Concerns have also been raised regarding a confession that was typed by a detective, and the possibility that Jamieson was mistaken for another individual with the same nickname.