Briton Gordon Wood freed from jail after court overturns girlfriend murder conviction

The court said doubts had been raised about the evidence of an expert witness, associate physics professor Rod Cross, who told the jury that Wood was strong enough to throw his girlfriend more than 30 feet out from the cliff face. One judge noted the expert's tests had been conducted on a compliant woman.

The court also heard that Mr Cross was biased and that the jury was not informed of the true extent of his involvement in the police case. One judge said Mr Cross had "crossed the line no expert should cross."

Mr Wood's sisters broke down in tears as the decision was handed down in Sydney. Wood, who has served three years of a minimum 13-year sentence, did not appear. His lawyer spoke to him in prison and said Wood went quiet and was "overwhelmed".

"It's just a relief, that's what it is," said Wood's sister, Michele Wood.

His other sister, Jacqueline Schmidt, told Fairfax media:"I don't think anyone can imagine what it's like to have your freedom taken away from you and have no hope, or have that hope taken away from you." The court questioned the long-running suggestions that Byrne was about to incriminate Rivkin. Chief Judge at Common Law Peter McClellan said: "The suggested evidence of a motive involving Rivkin is so thin that it should never have been left with the jury."