Newlove murder ringleader Swellings 'may appeal'

Feb 13 2008

THE ringleader of the gang that kicked Garry Newlove to death is considering appealing against his sentence and conviction, his solicitor said today.

Adam Swellings, 19, of Crewe, was locked up for life on Monday with a recommendation he serve a minimum of 17 years.

The popular 47-year-old’s murder sparked outrage and a national debate about Britain’s yob culture.

Today, Swellings’ solicitor Patrick Heald said the 17-year term had gone beyond parliament’s recommendation of 15 years for similar crimes.

Describing the minimum tariff as "robust", he said: "It is safe to say he will consider appealing both the conviction and sentence.

"However, these are very early days and I am not in a position to say more than that."

Mr Heald said the move was not unusual in such cases and he would be meeting his client to discuss the appeal after receiving written advice from his barrister, Geoffrey Whelan.

Asked whether Jordan Cunliffe, 16, and Stephen Sorton, 17 - sentenced to 12 and 15 years respectively - would also appeal, Mr Heald said: "I don’t act for them but their representatives will undoubtedly consider their positions."

Mrs Newlove, who was told about the possible appeal when she appeared on GMTV this morning, said of Swellings: "I am not surprised.

"He knows how to play the system, he has no respect and will just try whatever and I hope to God they don’t give him leave to appeal, because this is just disgraceful.

"How many times are they going to give this man, this lad... he was out on bail, the charges he had were assault, harassment, these weren’t little shoplifting charges."

News of Swellings' planned appeal came as Mr Newlove's widow revealed how the family were still coming to terms with his death six months on.

Helen Newlove, 45, said she has a candlelit "den" at her home where she keeps her husband’s ashes, glasses, wallet and the last T-shirt he wore.

She told GMTV: "I call it my den, where I have Garry’s ashes and I light candles and I talk to him that way.

"I carry his T-shirt and wallet, which he left at the side of the bed. I take them everywhere I go."

Mrs Newlove used her television appearance to say that retailers caught selling alcohol to children should lose their licences.

She appeared alongside her two eldest daughters, Zoe, 18, and Danielle, 15, after her youngest, Amy, 13, was too upset to talk.

Zoe, who, along with Amy, saw the fatal attack, appealed for people to understand what their lives are like six months after their father was kicked to death.

She said: "People need to understand exactly what we are going through because I know I am 18 but no-one should witness what I’ve seen or what my little sister Amy, who is 13, saw.

"We shouldn’t have seen that and people need to understand exactly what we’re going through."

Danielle, who is in her final year at school, added that the family’s loss had changed her little sister.

She said: "It is just not the same, Amy is completely different.

"She doesn’t know who she is at the moment.

"She was always with her dad and messing about, joking about, being sarcastic."

Zoe said Mr Newlove was the sisters’ best friend, who loved making people laugh with his great sense of humour.