Jennifer Sym
The Observer
June 2, 2000

NEW evidence in the case of jailed Chantal McCorkle has cast serious doubt on her conviction.

Chantal, 32, who grew up in the Windsor and Maidenhead area, was sentenced to 24 years in jail in January last year after she and husband William were found guilty of a white collar crime.

The couple helped sell a get-rich-quick video scheme on American television which landed them with over 90 charges of money laundering and fraud.

But private investigators in America have uncovered new evidence that the jury – which is supposed to impartially try a case – was tainted and possibly influenced by the court bailiff.

Chantal’s mum, Diane Forrester, of The Frithe, Wexham, who has ceaselessly campaigned for her daughter’s release, said: "they got 24 years for a nonviolent crime, just involving money.

"We are optimistic at this end but not over there.

Chantal and William are on tenterhooks about whether the judge will call them back and get the jury in and question them all. There is too much detail for it to be made up.

"In this country the case would get thrown out."

Documents which Diane is now distributing world-wide to Chantal’s thousands of supporters claim one of the jurors was related to someone who had bought one of the couple’s video deals.

The evidence states ‘From Day One he [the juror] told everyone the McCorkles were guilty and that he would made sure they didn’t get away with it’.

Another affadavit states the bailiff ‘told the jury they would not have any trouble convicting McCorkle fi they knew what he knew’.

Chantal’s supporters now have their own website – Error! Bookmark not defined. – and her tireless mum says: "I will get that girl out of there, whatever it takes. If Chantal had got five years with the evidence, I would still be going mad. The length is horrendous, but if something happened that wasn’t right, I won’t let it rest."