Casey Adams, 24, dubbed the ‘Mary Poppins killer’ after the family she worked for were found slain in their multi-million-dollar home in the Hollywood Hills, was released on appeal today. Supporters of Adams, who will return to the UK this week, claim it’s a victory for justice. ‘There was never any evidence against her,’ said Jeremy Caldwell (25), who runs the website freecaseyadams.com. ‘She was just lucky not to be a victim of the killer herself, and that was used against her, the fact she survived.’ Adams has always claimed the family were murdered by an unknown intruder, while she hid in the hall cupboard with the youngest child, Carson (eight months). However, police determined that Ms Adams’ prints were on the gun used to kill the father of the family, David Safran (39). She claimed she had picked it up after finding it discarded beside Mr Safran’s body, before realising the killer might still be in the house and taking shelter. Also killed were Abigail Safran (35) and Madison Safran (5).

Mr Safran’s sister, Ruth, said it was a travesty of justice and she hoped that Adams would be held to account for her actions in future. Dubbed ‘Racy Casey’, the then 19-year-old nanny was often pictured wearing low-cut tops and hot pants. Adams will fly in to the UK this week.

Rachel

Rachel

The news was out. I sat on a bench by the river with my phone in my hands, and clicked through endless reports. I had been so good at staying off the internet for years, and now it had sucked me in. The newspapers had it all. A picture of the dog shelter, the Happy Paws sign clearly visible. My full name, the lane I lived on in Coldwater. It had only five houses on it, so they may as well have given my full address. They knew about my marriage to Jeremy, fleeing America terrified they might lock me up again, desperate, broke, alone, not welcome home with Jenna, who by that stage had sold the flat and moved in with Steve the ex-milkman in Hove. ‘Steve, he reads the Sun, you see, he doesn’t want you here. I’ll come and see you soon instead.’ She never did.

There were pictures of Brandy, even, and I felt afraid for her. She was so trusting, she’d go up to anyone. I’d heard of dogs being poisoned with spiked meat before. When I ran from the shelter she’d followed me with her tail thumping, and I’d had to shut the door on her and flee out the back. I could already hear a babble of voices in the car park – the reporters were there.