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| Michael Weir guilty of 1998 'double jeopardy' murders | Michael Weir guilty of 1998 'double jeopardy' murders |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A jewel thief who beat two elderly people to death in their own homes has been convicted of their murders two decades on. | A jewel thief who beat two elderly people to death in their own homes has been convicted of their murders two decades on. |
| Michael Weir fatally attacked 78-year-old Leonard Harris and Rose Seferian, 83, in 1998, the Old Bailey was told. | Michael Weir fatally attacked 78-year-old Leonard Harris and Rose Seferian, 83, in 1998, the Old Bailey was told. |
| The original investigation missed clues to link the killings but DNA testing connected Weir to both London attacks after 20 years, the court heard. | The original investigation missed clues to link the killings but DNA testing connected Weir to both London attacks after 20 years, the court heard. |
| Weir, 52, of Hackney, had denied two counts of murder. | Weir, 52, of Hackney, had denied two counts of murder. |
| Prosecutor Tom Little QC told the jury the "defenceless pensioners" had been struck repeatedly and "left for dead". | Prosecutor Tom Little QC told the jury the "defenceless pensioners" had been struck repeatedly and "left for dead". |
| Weir was originally found guilty of murdering Mr Harris by an Old Bailey jury in July 1999, but his conviction was quashed by the Court of Appeal in 2000 on a technicality. | Weir was originally found guilty of murdering Mr Harris by an Old Bailey jury in July 1999, but his conviction was quashed by the Court of Appeal in 2000 on a technicality. |
| He was retried under the so-called double jeopardy law when new forensic evidence came to light, and prosecutors believe Weir is "the first convicted man to be convicted twice". | He was retried under the so-called double jeopardy law when new forensic evidence came to light, and prosecutors believe Weir is "the first convicted man to be convicted twice". |
| Trial judge Mrs Justice McGowan told the jury they had made "legal history". | Trial judge Mrs Justice McGowan told the jury they had made "legal history". |
| On 28 January 1998, Weir broke into Mr Harris's flat in East Finchley, north London, leaving him with serious head injuries. | On 28 January 1998, Weir broke into Mr Harris's flat in East Finchley, north London, leaving him with serious head injuries. |
| The pensioner was found by an estate agent while his wife, who suffered from dementia, was left badly injured on a bedroom floor. | The pensioner was found by an estate agent while his wife, who suffered from dementia, was left badly injured on a bedroom floor. |
| An 18-carat gold watch Mr Harris had taken from a German soldier during World War Two and his gold ring were missing. | An 18-carat gold watch Mr Harris had taken from a German soldier during World War Two and his gold ring were missing. |
| Three days after the attack, police found a palm print on the bedroom door but missed the match to the defendant at the time, the court heard. | Three days after the attack, police found a palm print on the bedroom door but missed the match to the defendant at the time, the court heard. |
| On 5 March, Weir violently attacked Ms Seferian in her bedroom when she was at home on her own. | On 5 March, Weir violently attacked Ms Seferian in her bedroom when she was at home on her own. |
| He stole jewellery including a gold wedding ring with her husband's initials and the date of their marriage engraved on it, a diamond solitaire gold ring, and a silver diamond ring, as well as cash. | He stole jewellery including a gold wedding ring with her husband's initials and the date of their marriage engraved on it, a diamond solitaire gold ring, and a silver diamond ring, as well as cash. |
| Analysis | Analysis |
| Clive Coleman, BBC legal correspondent | Clive Coleman, BBC legal correspondent |
| In 2005, the 800-year-old "double jeopardy" law that prevented a defendant from being tried a second time for the same offence was scrapped. | |
| From that point the Court of Appeal was able to grant a retrial if "new, compelling, reliable and substantial evidence" had emerged. | From that point the Court of Appeal was able to grant a retrial if "new, compelling, reliable and substantial evidence" had emerged. |
| Billy Dunlop became the first person to be convicted under the new law. He brutally murdered Julie Hogg in 1989 but, after two trials in which jurors could not reach a verdict, he was acquitted. In 2006 he was convicted at a fresh trial following the law change. | Billy Dunlop became the first person to be convicted under the new law. He brutally murdered Julie Hogg in 1989 but, after two trials in which jurors could not reach a verdict, he was acquitted. In 2006 he was convicted at a fresh trial following the law change. |
| However, until today the law had only been used to convict those acquitted at a first trial - making Michael Weir the first defendant ever to be found guilty of the same murder, twice. | However, until today the law had only been used to convict those acquitted at a first trial - making Michael Weir the first defendant ever to be found guilty of the same murder, twice. |
| And as the trial judge Mrs Justice McGowan told the jury, that made "legal history". | And as the trial judge Mrs Justice McGowan told the jury, that made "legal history". |
| Jurors were told a palm print found inside her Kensington flat on a window frame where Weir broke in was not matched to him until 2017. | Jurors were told a palm print found inside her Kensington flat on a window frame where Weir broke in was not matched to him until 2017. |
| The trial heard that by 2018 new DNA evidence had been obtained and palm prints from both murder scenes were matched to Weir. | The trial heard that by 2018 new DNA evidence had been obtained and palm prints from both murder scenes were matched to Weir. |
| It is believed to be the first time a defendant has been found guilty of the same murder twice, and where a second murder charge has been added to a double jeopardy case. | It is believed to be the first time a defendant has been found guilty of the same murder twice, and where a second murder charge has been added to a double jeopardy case. |
| Det Ch Insp Shaun Fitzgerald, from the Met, said: "Nothing can ever take away the pain of Leonard and Rose's families but we hope this conviction brings them some kind of closure. | |
| "Weir literally thought he had got away with murder but he now faces a considerable custodial sentence where he will have significant time to reflect on his utterly callous actions towards two completely innocent victims." | |
| Sentencing was adjourned until a date to be fixed. | Sentencing was adjourned until a date to be fixed. |