This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/london/8471960.stm

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Baby P killer loses rape appeal Baby P killer loses rape appeal
(about 1 hour later)
One of the three people jailed over the death of Baby Peter has lost an appeal against his conviction for the rape of a two-year-old. One of the three people jailed over the death of Baby Peter has lost an appeal against his conviction for raping a two-year-old.
Steven Barker, 33, who was ordered to serve at least 10 years for raping a girl, claimed he did not have a fair trial and his conviction was "unsafe". Steven Barker, 33, who was ordered to serve at least 10 years for raping a girl, was told by Lord Judge that he was "a danger to young children".
His challenge was rejected by the Court of Appeal in London. Barker, who was the boyfriend of Peter's mother Tracey Connelly, had claimed he did not have a fair trial.
Barker was the boyfriend of Tracey Connelly - the mother of Peter who died in north London in 2007. But his challenge was rejected by the Court of Appeal in London.
Barker had been jailed for 12 years for causing or allowing the death of 17-month-old Peter Connelly in north London in 2007 at a separate trial.
But he claimed his conviction for the rape of the two-year-old girl was "unsafe".
Barker's QC, Bernard Richmond, had argued at a hearing in November that an Old Bailey judge should have halted the case against him.Barker's QC, Bernard Richmond, had argued at a hearing in November that an Old Bailey judge should have halted the case against him.
'Danger to children' 'Proper and sound'
An argument put forward to the appeal judges by Mr Richmond was that the evidence of the girl should have been excluded.An argument put forward to the appeal judges by Mr Richmond was that the evidence of the girl should have been excluded.
The trial judge, he submitted, should have ruled that the child was not a "competent" witness.The trial judge, he submitted, should have ruled that the child was not a "competent" witness.
Opposing the appeal bid, Miss Sally O'Neill QC had argued that the trial judge had been "well-placed" and "entitled" to make the assessment he did about the competence of the child witness, who was aged four when she gave evidence.
He had reached proper and sound conclusions on that issue and on whether "there was a case properly to go to the jury", she said.
Lord Judge said: "All the reports upon the appellant indicate that he is a danger to young children."Lord Judge said: "All the reports upon the appellant indicate that he is a danger to young children."
Lord Chief Justice Lord Judge, Lady Justice Hallett and Mrs Justice Macur, also dismissed his appeal against his sentence.Lord Chief Justice Lord Judge, Lady Justice Hallett and Mrs Justice Macur, also dismissed his appeal against his sentence.
Barker was sentenced to 12 years for causing or allowing the death of 17-month-old Peter Connelly at a separate trial.
The toddler was found dead in his cot with more than 50 injuries, including fractured ribs and a broken back, at a property in Tottenham in August 2007.The toddler was found dead in his cot with more than 50 injuries, including fractured ribs and a broken back, at a property in Tottenham in August 2007.
Peter's mother, Tracey Connelly, 28, of Penshurst Road, Tottenham, north London, and lodger Jason Owen, 37, of Bromley, south east London, were also jailed over the child's death.Peter's mother, Tracey Connelly, 28, of Penshurst Road, Tottenham, north London, and lodger Jason Owen, 37, of Bromley, south east London, were also jailed over the child's death.