A cheating postman jailed for killing his secret lover has been freed from prison after his case featured on a Netflix series investigating potential miscarriages of justice.
Roger Kearney, 72, served 15 years for murdering Paula Poolton, 40, who was found stabbed to death in the boot of her car in Swanwick, Hampshire, in 2008.
Kearney has always maintained his innocence, with his case appearing in the Netflix mini-series Conviction: Murder at the Station in 2023.
The charity Inside Justice reviewed Kearney’s case, including claims Paula was having an affair with another man.
Originally released on the BBC in 2016, the charity revealed forensic exhibits collected by police had been lost, destroyed or contaminated following his unsuccessful appeal.
Despite the popularity of the show, no miscarriage of justice was ever proved and Kearney – a self-confessed ‘love rat’ – remained in prison.
All his attempts to appeal his murder conviction were unsuccessful.
But now it has emerged Kearney was relased from prison the first time he asked an independent parole board.
They granted him release in November last year, meaning he served 15 years and five months for Paula’s murder.
He has reportedly been seen in the Shirley area of Southampton, around 10 miles from the scene of his murder.
Kearney, from Sarisbury Green, Hampshire, had been Mrs Poolton’s lover in an affair behind his wife’s back during the summer of 2008. They had met while he was working as a steward at Southampton FC.
Roger Kearney was convicted of the murder of Paula Poolton, 40, in 2008. His case featured on a Netflix show investigating whether there was a miscarriage of justice but none was proved
Paula Poolton was stabbed seven times by Kearney who dumped her in the boot of her car on October 17, 2008. She was not found for 11 days
Mrs Poolton from Titchfield, Hampshire, was more keen on Kearney than he on her, her friends said at the time. She was even considering leaving her husband Richard for him.
The affair ended the day that Mrs Poolton told her friend Carol Bertie she had been looking for a house to buy and move in with Kearney.
However, Inside Justice revealed ‘people close’ to the victim said Mrs Poolton may have been in a ‘relationship or friendship’ with another man close to her death.
The charity did not provide further details.
Later on, Kearney stabbed her seven times near Swanwick railway station in a picturesque Hampshire village and he dumped her body in the boot of her black Peugeot 206 on October 17, 2008. She was not found for 11 days.
He always professed his innocence, shaking his head in disbelief when the jury returned their guilty verdict at Winchester Crown Court in 2010.
During the six-week trial, he lied about his whereabouts at the crucial hour after Mrs Poolton’s car was last seen on CCTV, prosecutors said.
He said he had left for a night shift at 10pm for the 15-minute drive to work when CCTV footage showed he left home at 9.31pm.
He also lied about the route saying he drove away from the spot near Swanwick railway station in Hampshire where Mrs Poolton’s car was found towards his work.
But footage showed Kearney’s Mitsubishi Shogun driving towards the railway station.
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: ‘Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Paula Poolton.
‘Decisions to release life-sentenced prisoners are made by the independent Parole Board after a thorough risk assessment.
‘They are subject to probation supervision for life and can be recalled to prison if they breach strict licence conditions.’
The murder scene at the time. Police finally discovered Mrs Poolton’s body in the boot of her black Peugeot 206
Kearney also attempted to sue Royal Mail for sacking him from his £400-a-week job following his murder conviction, infuriating delivery bosses and MPs at the time that it was allowed to go ahead.
He lost the unfair dismissal claim following the employment tribunal case after saying they had sacked him before his guilty verdict and demanded £8,225 in lost wages.
Louise Shorter, chief executive and investigator at Inside Justice, spoke about the murder case at the time: ‘There has been further speculation of this on social media and if true, could be highly relevant to the case.
‘We need to know one way or the other, so I am appealing to anyone who has information about a relationship or friendship to come forward, speaking in confidence if need be.’
In Conviction: Murder at the Station, Ms Shorter is shown finding tape from the victim’s clothing and a carrier bag that had been lost, destroyed or contaminated.
There is guidance in place to stop this from happening but 80 per cent of police forces are unaware, the charity claimed.
In 2016, Mrs Poolton’s mother said: ‘He’s not innocent. Twelve jurors all agreed he was guilty.’
However, Kearney’s daughter said: ‘He’s not a callous murderer.’
