CONVICTED killer Leon Sobers is to have his appeal against the conviction heard this month.Sobers is challenging his conviction for murdering Ipswich barmaid Janet Fleming, on the basis that there was no evidence linking him to the murder at all.
CONVICTED killer Leon Sobers is to have his appeal against the conviction heard this month.
Sobers is challenging his conviction for murdering Ipswich barmaid Janet Fleming, on the basis that there was no evidence linking him to the murder at all.
Sobers was jailed for a double life sentence in 2001, along with his co accused Damien Duberry for murdering the 38-year-old single mum during a pub robbery.
Both men had denied murder and robbery but a jury convicted them.
The trial judge the Honourable Mr Justice Moses sentenced them each to two terms of life imprisonment.
As the Evening Star has reported, a single judge initially refused Sobers leave to appeal, and the application was renewed to a full court of three judges.
A spokeswoman for the Court of Appeal in The Strand, London, today confirmed the appeal would be heard there on May 13.
Ms Fleming's mother Freda from Sudbury has said the appeal was not unexpected, and declined to comment further.
Police believe Ms Fleming returned to the pub after hearing the commotion of her colleague temporary landlord Andrew Hull being robbed inside, as two raiders stole takings from the safe.
The court heard that Duberry, then 21, formerly of Morland Road, Ipswich, had struck Ms Fleming on the head with a gun and then stamped repeatedly on her head outside the pub while Sobers remained inside with Mr Hull.
December 10, 2000:
Ms Fleming was attacked outside Harleys pub on Stoke Park Drive where she had just finished a shift. She died two days later from head injuries.
October 2001:
Sobers and Duberry are both found guilty of murder and robbery, by a jury after a two-week trial.
December 7, 2001:
Sobers, formerly of Birkfield Drive Ipswich lodged an appeal against his murder conviction.
February 2003:
Sobers was granted leave to appeal against his conviction for murder.
May 2003:
The Court of Appeal in London will hear Sobers' appeal.
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