The last man from Britain to face being hanged has died - and he protested his innocence until his last day.
Alan Norton, 79, was sentenced to death by hanging in 1966, after his 10-year-old sister, Joy, was found stabbed to death a year before, in 1965.
He always denied the crime and in 1986, while he was waiting for his date to hang, capital punishment was abolished on the Channel Island of Jersey so his sentence was commuted to life imprisonment and Norton ended up serving more than 30 years in prison.
When he was released, in 1996, Norton launched a tireless campaign to prove his innocence, paying for a polygraph test and campaigning for DNA examination, and now he has passed away without clearing his name.
During his last years, he lived in Portsmouth, Hampshire, and lived next to Lindsay Carline, who spoke to The Mirror about Norton's final days.
What do you think about capital punishment? Let us know in the comments...
Alan's little sister, Joy, was found in a field on the Channel Island with multiple stab wounds and had been sexually assaulted.
Alan says the crime was pinned on him by the local police force and believes the dress that his sister wore at the time could hold clues to who her murderer is.
He asked Jersey Police to release the dress so he could conduct DNA testing, which wasn't available at the time of his arrest, but authorities say that the dress wasn't retained after the case was closed.
Alan paid for a lie detector test, which he passed, and then later wrote a book about his struggle to clear his name - called Justice Jersey Style: A true story based on the life of Alan William Norton.
Eventually, Alan left Jersey and lived a quiet life in Portsmouth with his dog, Princess, but now he has passed away.
His neighbour from Portsmouth, Lindsay, said: "He wasn't disowned, but he was estranged from his family. Because of the situation that happened when their little sister was murdered
"He hadn't really reconciled with them, he got back in touch with one of his siblings but it didn't continue, it was a very strange relationship because when all this happened they were quite young - he was 21 when she was murdered, she was 11, and his surviving siblings only two are still around, they were quite young.
"I feel sorry for him, but also for the family because it's a horrible thing - it tears the family in two.
"She was murdered and he was convicted for the crime, but in his book, he explained that the justice system on Jersey is very different to the rest of the UK.
"Alan said that he felt like the police at the time wanted to make a name for themselves, and he was used as a patsy.
"Somehow he got convicted, so I don't know if there are bits from the trial that Alan didn't remember or missed out, but from what I know he was a golden soul."
Lindsay said that during their time as neighbours, Alan never strayed from his version of events - insisting his innocence at every opportunity.
She continued: "He was kind, he was generous, he lived penny by penny but if there was any way he could help someone he would.
"I've had health issues and he helped me through cancer recovery, recovery from spine surgery, and he's helped me through chronic pain, so he's always been a lovely person.
"I never once had any inkling that he could possibly be guilty.
"He paid to do a polygraph when he was released from prison and he passed that, he got a minimum wage job when he was on licence and saved up while stacking shelves because he wanted to prove his innocence.
"He and his lawyer were desperately trying to get hold of the dress that was evidence, what his sister was wearing when he was murdered, to get a DNA test done but when they tried to get it off the Jersey Police they were told it was lost.
"I don't know if it was lost or destroyed. Alan was sentenced to be hanged, as far as the Jersey Police were concerned he shouldn't be around to want the evidence or be released.
"Why wouldn't they say that it was destroyed because he was convicted and shouldn't have been around.
"The crime happened in 1965 so there wasn't DNA testing back then.
"He was released in 1996, he spent more than 30 years in prison.
For more of the news you care about, straight to your inbox, sign up for one of our daily newsletters here.
"This is what amazes me about his character, he was surrounded by people who were true criminals, the lowest of the low, and yet he came out such a warm-hearted person who couldn't do enough for you.
"His family turned against him after the crime, because of the evidence that the police supposedly had, but he also had a wife and a baby at that time.
"His wife divorced him and he wasn't allowed to have anything to do with his son. He passed away a few years ago, his ex-wife has passed away too."
Alan Norton died on May 18 after 'keeling over' while walking home, when attempts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful.
Lindsay is now trying to raise money for Alan's funeral and to rehome his dog, Princess, a Dogue de Bordeaux. To donate, please visit the GoFundMe page here.
Jersey Police have been approached for comment.
Do you have a story to sell? Get in touch with us at yourmirror@mirror.co.uk
