From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] FARMER WHO MURDERED TEENAGE BURGLAR BEGINS FREEDOM BID 141015 JUN 00 By Sam Greenhill, PA News Jailed farmer Tony Martin will begin his bid for freedom at the Court of Appeal on Monday, his solicitor said today. The court will consider whether members of the jury at Martin's murder trial can be called to the witness box to examine accusations of intimidation. Martin, 55, was found guilty of murdering teenage burglar Fred Barras, 16, and wounding his accomplice Brendan Fearon, 30, with a shotgun. Martin's solicitor, Nick Makin, said the farmer was pleased the appeal procedure was finally beginning. "He is very frustrated at being in prison and he is looking forward to getting out," said Mr Makin. "He wants to get the hearing over and done with and get on with the main appeal. "The Court of Appeal on Monday will consider whether or not to allow the jury to be examined in that appeal." Martin's defence team argues that a fair trial was not possible because there was an atmosphere of intimidation for jurors and witnesses. But their main ground for appeal is that they claim the judge "substantially misdirected" the jury during his summing up, said Mr Makin. Martin, of Bleak House, Emneth Hungate, near Emneth, Norfolk, was found guilty of murdering Barras, of Newark, Notts, and was sentenced to life imprisonment after being convicted by a 10-2 majority at the end of an eight-day trial at Norwich Crown Court in April. He was also convicted of wounding Fearon, also of Newark, with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. The farmer was cleared of attempting to murder Fearon and of possessing a pump-action shotgun with intent to endanger life. Jurors heard the burglars had been shot after breaking into Martin's isolated home late at night in August. Barras had been shot in the back and Fearon in the groin. The farmer, who claims he fired in self-defence, has described the death of Barras as "regrettable" and says he did not intend to kill him. Kenneth Pantling Nock's Grim Truth - In proportion as you give the State power to do things for you, you give it power to do things to you; and the State invariably makes as little as it can of the one power and as much as it can of the other. -------[Cybershooters contacts]-------- Editor: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Website & subscription info: www.cybershooters.org
