A NORTH EAST solicitor has been praised for her vital role in overturning the murder conviction of Justin Plummer, who has walked free after 28 years behind bars.
Senior Associate Solicitor Annalisa Moscardini, of TBI Scanlans , has been hailed by her firm as “a cut above the rest” after she helped secure justice in one of the most significant miscarriage of justice cases in living memory.
Mr Plummer, now 52, has been in custody since 1997. He was convicted of murdering Janice Cartwright-Gilbert in a “frenzied” attack at the building site of her future home near Wilden, Bedfordshire.
Despite no DNA evidence linking him to the murder, he’s since spent much of the near- three decades behind bars sleeping on his cell’s cold concrete floor protesting his innocence.
However, the Court of Appeal finally quashed his conviction after judges ruled key evidence was unreliable.
Having first representing Mr Plummer in 2016, Annalisa played an instrumental role in bringing fresh evidence to the Criminal Cases Review Commission.
That application eventually paved the way for the Court of Appeal’s decision to clear Mr Plummer’s name.
“Justin never stopped fighting to prove his innocence and he never lost hope, even when the odds seemed impossible," said Annalisa.
"His refusal to accept parole and his continued protest over almost three decades show his strength of character.
"I'm proud to have stood alongside him in his fight and relieved that Justin will finally walk free with his name cleared.”
A Northumbria University graduate, Annalisa has been practicing as a solicitor for 15 years and regularly represents clients in criminal cases in courts across the North East.
She's one of over 200 staff at TBI Law, one of the North East's largest legal firms with offices across the region including Stockton, Wynyard, Hartlepool, Barnard Castle, and Sunderland.
For Neil Taylor, partner at TBI Law, Annalisa's work on the case has further cemented the firm’s standing within the industry.
“Annalisa’s hard work and sheer determination were crucial in bringing this case back before the courts,” he said.
“She embodies the qualities that set TBI’s legal team apart – tenacity, expertise and an unwavering commitment to our clients - and that's why we are trusted to handle the most important cases because we deliver results where others can't."
Established in 1842, TBI Law acquired Sunderland-based Scanlans Solicitors earlier this year, with Heather Bolton joining the Partnership team at Tilly Bailey & Irvine.
A trusted name in Sunderland for nearly 40 years, Scanlans has long held a strong reputation for criminal law.
Its integration into TBI Law has ensured clients continue to receive the same personal service while also benefiting from the wider expertise of one of the North East’s leading full-service practices.
For Annalisa, the case marks the culmination of years of persistence - and one with a happy ending.
“My hope now is that Justin can finally enjoy the freedom he deserves," she added.
