THE conviction of one of three teenagers jailed for the murder of Garry Newlove in Warrington is to be reviewed in the new year.
The Criminal Cases Review Commission has confirmed it will start an investigation into the conviction of Jordan Cunliffe, who was 16 at the time of his conviction, in February.
Cunliffe, (left) now aged 22, orginally from Warrington, has always protested his innocence but was jailed for a minimum 12 years over the murder of Mr Newlove, 47, (pictured right) who was beaten to death after confronting a gang outside his home in 2007.
He died in hospital two days after the attack, which had been witnessed by his two daughters.
In 2010 the Court of Appeal rejected a bid to challenge the conviction.
Cunliffe was convicted under the ‘joint enterprise’ law which allows for a conviction for offences like assault or murder even when the defendant did not take part in a physical attack but was part of a ‘common purpose’.
During the trial, it was argued that he had a serious eye condition and would not have been able to see the attack.
Adam Swellings, of Crewe, Cheshire, lost an appeal in November 2008 when judges rejected his argument that his conviction was unsafe and his 17-year minimum term ‘manifestly excessive’.
Their co-accused Stephen Sorton, of Warrington, appealed at the same time against his 15-year minimum term, which was reduced to 13 years.
