Court of Appeal reduces our client's minimum term for sentence in attempted murder conviction

Amy's client was convicted in January 2023 and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 22 years for attempted murder of his ex-wife. He was represented at trial by another firm. Amy was instructed on the appeal of this case. 

Both an appeal against conviction and an appeal against sentence were lodged. The points put forward in the appeal against conviction were the previous legal team's failure to present psychiatric evidence that might have impacted the jury’s view on his intent, and the decision not to call certain expert witnesses. The appeal against sentence argued that the starting point for sentence was incorrect. 

The court dismissed the appeal against conviction, refusing the application to adduce fresh psychiatric evidence. It found that the psychiatric evidence would not have amounted to a defence to attempted murder. 

The court did grant leave to appeal against the sentence, agreeing with our submission that the starting point for sentence was incorrectly set. Our client's minimum term was reduced by over three years to 18 years and 171 days. 

Read more here in Crimeline's article.

Amy Cox had conduct of this case. Katy Thorne KC of Doughty Street Chambers was instructed counsel. Izzie Bond-Mills assisted on this case.