Crime Immemorial

However, the defendant in that case pleaded guilty, and Daniel was not called to testify. Authorities later stated that Daniel’s murder was likely not connected to the trial, but the coincidence fueled speculation.

Reports at the time suggested the shooting may have been tied to gang rivalry in the area, though police emphasized that Daniel himself was not involved in gangs, crime, or drugs. This distinction painted a picture of an innocent young man caught in the crossfire of a violent underworld, making his death all the more tragic.

In 2002, Dwaine Simeon George, then twenty years old, was arrested and convicted of Daniel’s murder at Preston Crown Court. He was sentenced to life in prison for the killing and for possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life. A key piece of evidence in the case was the discovery of particles on a black Henri Lloyd hooded jacket found at George’s home, which prosecutors claimed were gunshot residue, linking him to the shooting.

George, a former gang member, maintained his innocence throughout his imprisonment, denying any involvement in Daniel’s death. Despite multiple failed appeals, his case gained renewed attention years later when advancements in forensic science cast doubt on the original evidence.

In 2014, after George had served twelve years in prison and been released on parole, his conviction was quashed by the Court of Appeal. The turning point came through the efforts of an “innocence project” at Cardiff University, where law students collaborated to investigate potential miscarriages of justice. Their work led to a referral to the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), which re-examined the forensic evidence used in the 2002 trial.

The prosecution’s case had hinged on the particles found on George’s jacket, initially identified as gunshot residue. However, by 2014, forensic analysis techniques had advanced significantly. New guidelines issued by the Forensic Science Service in 2006 revealed that the particles found were too small to hold evidential value and could have originated from sources other than a firearm, such as fireworks. James Wood QC, George’s counsel, argued that these advancements undermined the original conviction, and the Court of Appeal agreed. Top judge Sir Brian Leveson stated that the new forensic evidence “might reasonably have affected the decision of the trial jury,” leading to the quashing of George’s conviction.

Following the ruling, Daniel’s mother publicly called on George to reveal the identity of her son’s true killer, expressing her anguish and desire for closure. George, then thirty-one, expressed sympathy for Daniel’s family but maintained he was not responsible for the murder.

The original trial in 2002 involved three other individuals alongside George: Ryan Brown, his brother Nathan Loftus, and Arron Cunningham. One co-defendant pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life and possessing ammunition without a certificate, and he gave evidence for the prosecution. Another changed his plea during the trial, admitting to possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life. A third was convicted of wounding with intent, though this conviction was later quashed, and he was sentenced for firearm possession. The complex dynamics of the trial suggested a web of criminal activity, but the overturned conviction of George left the case unresolved.

With George’s conviction quashed, Daniel Dale’s slaying remains officially unresolved. Greater Manchester Police have not publicly identified new suspects since the 2014 ruling.