CONVICTED double murderer Peter Fell could be a free man today after the battle to clear his name returned to the Court of Appeal.

The former Great Harwood photographic salesman and soldier's appeal was listed for three days at the Old Bailey in central London.

But, if as expected, the Crown Prosecution Service offers no evidence in the hearing, he could be freed immediately.

Fell has spent the last 17 years in jail after being convicted of murdering Ann Lee, 44, the wife of a retired Army major, and Margaret 'Peggy' Johnson, 65, the wife of a banking director, on Aldershot Common.

He was given two life sentences at Winchester Crown Court on August 9, 1984.

But he was freed on bail by the Court of Appeal after prosecution lawyers admitted the conviction was unsafe.

Since being released, Fell has been living at bail hostels in London and Poole, Dorset. His supporters say he has found living outside an institution for the first time difficult -- before being locked up he was in the army after leaving a care home.

When he was released pending his appeal, Fell claimed his only crime was being foolish.

He rang the police after the murders were publicised to say the murderer was called Pete and lived in York Road, Aldershot -- his own address.

A year after making the call, he was interviewed for a second time and confessed to the killings after 72 hours of questioning without a solicitor.

His supporters claim the facts in his statement do not match the actual events.

The confession was later retracted.