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| Wadebridge petrol station couple's murderer granted appeal | Wadebridge petrol station couple's murderer granted appeal |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| One of two brothers convicted of murdering a couple who were shot and bludgeoned with a sledgehammer has been granted a new appeal, his lawyers said. | |
| Lee Firkins was found guilty in 2005 of murdering Graham, 60, and Carol Fisher, 53, at their Cornwall petrol station, alongside his brother Robert. | Lee Firkins was found guilty in 2005 of murdering Graham, 60, and Carol Fisher, 53, at their Cornwall petrol station, alongside his brother Robert. |
| His lawyers said new evidence meant there was a "real possibility" it may be overturned by the Court of Appeal. | His lawyers said new evidence meant there was a "real possibility" it may be overturned by the Court of Appeal. |
| The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) recommended the review. | The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) recommended the review. |
| The body received further DNA evidence from the brother's lawyers in 2017. | The body received further DNA evidence from the brother's lawyers in 2017. |
| Lee Firkins' first appeal in 2009 failed. | Lee Firkins' first appeal in 2009 failed. |
| Both brothers are currently serving life sentences for the 2003 murders of Mr and Mrs Fisher, who were shot repeatedly at the Wadebridge petrol station after being bludgeoned with a sledgehammer. | |
| Hickman and Rose, part of Lee Firkins' legal team, said they were "celebrating a victory" for their client and the CCRC had "finally confirmed... there is a real possibility the court will not uphold the conviction". | Hickman and Rose, part of Lee Firkins' legal team, said they were "celebrating a victory" for their client and the CCRC had "finally confirmed... there is a real possibility the court will not uphold the conviction". |
| No physical evidence was found to link the brothers to the crime scene. | No physical evidence was found to link the brothers to the crime scene. |
| Their conviction was based on the evidence of a fellow prisoner at HMP Exeter, the firm argued. | Their conviction was based on the evidence of a fellow prisoner at HMP Exeter, the firm argued. |
| Jane Hickman, from his legal team, said it was "not the first time" the court would be "asked to examine the credibility of a case based almost entirely on a cell confession". | Jane Hickman, from his legal team, said it was "not the first time" the court would be "asked to examine the credibility of a case based almost entirely on a cell confession". |
| She added: "It is time that this type of evidence ceased to be a last resort where police have no proper case against someone they think is a likely suspect". | She added: "It is time that this type of evidence ceased to be a last resort where police have no proper case against someone they think is a likely suspect". |