Retrial ordered for dog walker murder

A labourer jailed for life for the murder of a dog walker had his conviction quashed today and will stand trial again.

John Pope, 60, was convicted of murdering Karen Skipper, 34, in Cardiff, south Wales, in March 1996.

Her partially clothed body was discovered in the River Ely close to where she had been walking her dogs.

The father-of-four was sentenced to a minimum 13 years in jail at Cardiff Crown Court after being found guilty of murder in February last year.

His conviction came after husband Phillip Skipper stood trial for his wife's murder in 1997 and was acquitted.

Lord Justice Thomas, at the court of appeal sitting at Cardiff Crown Court today, quashed Pope's conviction and ordered a retrial.

Pope, who was not present in court for the hearing, was remanded in custody pending the retrial.

He is expected to stand trial early in the new year at a crown court to be chosen at a later date.