Martin can appeal over shooting of burglars

Tony Martin, the Norfolk farmer, has won the right to appeal against his murder conviction for shooting dead a teenage burglar, his solicitor said yesterday.

Tony Martin, the Norfolk farmer, has won the right to appeal against his murder conviction for shooting dead a teenage burglar, his solicitor said yesterday.

Martin was jailed in April for life for shooting 16-year-old Fred Barras at his isolated farmhouse. He was also convicted of wounding a second burglar, Brendan Fearon, 30, with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, when the pair raided his Bleak House home, in Emneth Hungate, near Emneth.

His solicitor, Nick Makin, said that the trial judge, Mr Justice Owen, had misdirected the jury, in effect telling them to convict if there was "any doubt" about the farmer's version of events.

Mr Makin said Martin would be allowed to challenge the wounding charge at the Court of Appeal. That will automatically allow him to appeal against the murder conviction at the same time.

A leaked document revealed that Mr Justice Owen recommended that Martin serve a minimum of nine years before he was considered for parole.