The mother of a Hoxton man serving his seventh Christmas behind bars - for a murder for which many people believe he was wrongly convicted - hopes this will be the last, and has urged everyone to send him a Christmas card.

Hopes are high among Sam Hallam’s family, friends and supporters that 2011 will be the year his murder conviction is overturned.

Hallam, now 23 was sentenced six years ago to life imprisonment for allegedly killing 21-year-old Essayas Kassahun.

Since February, a major inquiry into his case by Thames Valley Police officers has been underway.

Significantly, of 12,000 applications received by the Criminal Cases Review Commision (CCRC) since undertaking responsibility for alleged miscarriages of justice in 1997, only 44 have warranted a new police investigation.

Hallam’s mother, Wendy Cohen, said: “I hope and pray that this will be Sam’s last Christmas in prison.”

“Until he wins justice, I’d ask everyone to send Sam a card letting him know you support his campaign for freedom.”

A cluster of campaigners held a benefit evening on Saturday 4 December from 8pm at the Lion and Lamb pub in Fanshaw Street, Hoxton, with performers including rock band Black Danny and the pub’s landlord Niall Gallagher.

A ‘documentary’ theatre project, entitled Someone to Blame, telling Hallam’s story using witness statements and court testimonies, is expected to start performances early next year.

Messages of support can be sent to: Sam Hallam, A3535AD, HMP Bullingdon, PO Box 50, Bicester, Oxon 0X25 1PZ