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Killer will appeal life sentence | Killer will appeal life sentence |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A County Tyrone man jailed for life for murdering a retired librarian is challenging his prison sentence. | A County Tyrone man jailed for life for murdering a retired librarian is challenging his prison sentence. |
Trevor Hamilton, 25, was told that he would spend the rest of his life in prison with no prospect of release for killing Attracta Harron, 65, in 2003. | Trevor Hamilton, 25, was told that he would spend the rest of his life in prison with no prospect of release for killing Attracta Harron, 65, in 2003. |
As an appeal against his conviction was due to begin, his legal team said he would now be contesting the length of his sentence. | |
The case has now concluded and judgement has been reserved. | |
Lawyers told a hearing in February that DNA evidence used to link Hamilton to the victim was "questionable". | Lawyers told a hearing in February that DNA evidence used to link Hamilton to the victim was "questionable". |
Prosecutors insisted the conviction was safe as it did not rely solely on low copy number DNA. | Prosecutors insisted the conviction was safe as it did not rely solely on low copy number DNA. |
A legal team for the Sion Mills man commissioned an independent expert to review DNA findings from the trial before deciding whether to submit any new evidence as part of a challenge to the conviction. | A legal team for the Sion Mills man commissioned an independent expert to review DNA findings from the trial before deciding whether to submit any new evidence as part of a challenge to the conviction. |
Mrs Harron, from Strabane, was killed by Hamilton less than four months after he had completed a rape sentence. | Mrs Harron, from Strabane, was killed by Hamilton less than four months after he had completed a rape sentence. |
She was last seen walking home from morning Mass near Murlog in County Donegal in December 2003. | She was last seen walking home from morning Mass near Murlog in County Donegal in December 2003. |
The body of the mother of five was found months later in a makeshift grave near Hamilton's home. She had been battered to death. | The body of the mother of five was found months later in a makeshift grave near Hamilton's home. She had been battered to death. |