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Thursday July 17, 5:04 PM GMT

Teenager's Police Murder Conviction Quashed By Law Lords

Teenager Philip English, who was jailed for life for murdering a policeman although he was 100 yards away from the stabbing and in handcuffs, has been freed by the House of Lords.

Five Law Lords overturned the 19-year-old's 1994 conviction for the murder of Sgt Bill Forth in Gateshead in March 1993. They will give their reasons for their decision in the landmark case at a later date.

English was just 15 at the time of the killing and is believed to be the youngest person convicted of murdering a policeman. His test case has been compared to that of Derek Bentley, who was executed in 1953 for the murder of a policeman carried out by someone else.

English, who has been serving his sentence in Moorlands Prison, near Doncaster, was found guilty of murder at Teesside Crown Court along with Paul Weddle, then aged 25, who stabbed Sgt Forth to death.

Today's House of Lords decision followed a re-examination by the Law Lords of the law on "joint enterprise".

English's lawyers had argued that the teenager was wrongly convicted of murder because of a confusion in the law and was serving a life sentence for actions that he was not responsible for.


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Later Story: Seven Held Over Pop Festival Murder Bid
Earlier Story: Russell Murders: Man Quizzed By Police

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