BLIND Yvonne Sleightholme is finally set to move to an open prison - six months after the Evening Press revealed how a blunder had kept her locked up unfairly.

A judge recommended in 1991 that Sleightholme should serve ten years after she was convicted of shooting dead farmer's wife Jayne Smith in a farmyard at Broat's Farm, Salton, near Malton, in 1989.

Sleightholme, who has always denied the murder, has now served more than 13 years, including time on remand, despite exemplary behaviour.

The parole board agreed to re-examine her case after the Evening Press revealed in the spring that last year's decision to keep her locked up was based on inaccurate information.

For example, while the board had believed she had failed to complete work on enhanced thinking skills, documents obtained by the paper proved she had successfully completed such a course in August 2002.

Now the board is recommending a transfer to open conditions, and she may go to Askham Grange, near York.

Sleightholme today thanked the news paper for achieving justice. Speaking during visiting time at medium-security Styal jail, in Cheshire, she said: "I don't believe my case would have been reviewed again had the Evening Press not raised the unfairness of the decision with the board. I am very grateful."

Two supporters who have long been campaigning to establish her innocence, David Hamilton and Margaret Leonard, revealed they had unsuccessfully pleaded at an oral hearing for an exceptional case to be made for Sleightholme to be freed.

They said that, although a period in open conditions was the norm, the law permitted release on licence in exceptional circumstances.

They were deeply unhappy about the way the hearing had been conducted, claiming for example that the panel had not been fully briefed beforehand.

A complaint was lodged but they had since been told the decision still stood.

The board said in a letter to them that it was satisfied Sleightholme had received a "full and fair" hearing.

Campaigners claim her release has been consistently delayed because of her refusal to confess to the crime.

Updated: 10:35 Tuesday, November 11, 2003