The case of Paul Higginson

Derek Ianson was murdered in the garden of his home by two men whose heads were covered by balaclava helmets. Stuart Grainger and Paul Higginson were convicted of the murder. Both deny that they were involved. Paul Higginson was convicted more by association with Stuart Grainger than on evidence, of which there was almost nothing. And he had a good alibi.

At 6.00 pm on Friday 19 May 2000 two masked men entered Ianson’s home and chased him into his garden. One of them (alleged to be Grainger) shot Ianson using a MAC 10 type handheld machine gun from which 17 bullet fragments and 26 cartridge cases were left at the scene. The other carried a handgun from which no bullet fragments or cartridges were found at the scene.

Grainger had previously quarrelled with Ianson. Paul Higginson had no quarrel with him.

Three months later the police found two balaclavas in an outhouse at Grainger's mother's house. From one of which they recovered a trace of DNA which had a limited match to Paul – so limited that it also matches one in four of all other white Caucasians in this country.

A mobile phone owned by Paul appeared to link him to the murder. Paul says that this phone had been borrowed by an acquaintance at the time of the murder – and now the acquaintance has confirmed this fact.

This is all the evidence there is to connect Paul with the crime. But he also has an alibi. At approximately 4.30pm to 4.45pm he went with his partner and their baby to the KFC on Regent Road. They left again at around 5.30 to 5.35pm after putting the baby chair into the car, and drove home, arriving at approximately 5.55pm, just before the baby’s bedtime. That would leave him approximately four minutes to go into the house, change his clothing, get into a different car and travel to the victim’s home to arrive at least one minute before 6.00pm, which was when the altercation started. But the home of the victim is a good 7 to 15 minutes’ drive away from where Paul lived, depending on traffic and driving speed.

Paul could not have committed this crime.

He appealed with Stuart Grainger against conviction, but the appeal, which was refused, concerned only problems over identification evidence against Grainger. Now Paul is applying to the Criminal Cases Review Commission to have his case referred for a second appeal.

Paul Higginson is supported by the INNOCENT group. If you would like more information or have any information that could help Paul please contact us at:

INNOCENT, Dept. 54, PO Box 282, Oldham OL1 3FY, or

Paul Higginson, FV5850, HMP Dovegate, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, ST14 8XR