Murder of Garry Newlove - Appeals

Appeals

Swellings and Sorton appealed against their convictions and sentences. Their case was heard at the Court of Appeal on 13 November 2008. Swellings lost the appeal against his conviction and sentence, although Sorton won a two-year reduction on his minimum sentence.

Newlove's widow, Helen Newlove, joined forces with the local and national media, in particular The Sun newspaper, to campaign for a clampdown on gangs like the one who claimed her husband's life, with heavier prison sentences and a return of the death penalty for murder. She also campaigns for better control on binge drinking. In recognition of her campaigning, Helen Newlove was ennobled as Baroness Newlove in 2010.

Cunliffe later appealed against his murder conviction on the grounds that he had not taken part in the attack on Mr Newlove, although he had been present when it happened. On 26 July 2010, the Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal. He is now reported to be challenging his murder conviction (obtained on the grounds of joint enterprise as he reportedly did not take part in the attack despite being present when the others took part) on the grounds that he could barely see the attack taking place due to a degenerative eye condition, which he and his supporters (including his mother Janet) claim would make him not guilty of murder. The campaign also calls for an end to the ability of the legal system to secure a murder conviction against someone on the grounds of joint enterprise if they were present but did not actually commit the killing. BAFTA winning screen-writer Jimmy McGovern is reportedly using the case of Jordan Cunliffe as a base for a new television drama.