Retrial over Manning murder
Thursday, 15 Nov 2007 20:15
Barri White now face a retrial over the murder of Rachel Manning
A man who was given a life sentence for the murder of his girlfriend Rachel Manning in 2002 has won the right to a retrial.
Barri White of Bletchley, Buckinghamshire, now 29, was found guilty by a jury five years ago of the murder of Ms Manning in December 2000.
The Court of Appeal today quashed the conviction as well as overturning the conviction of a second man, Keith Hyatt, who was jailed for five years for conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
Mr Hyatt, who was alleged to have helped dispose of the body, has served his sentence so cannot be retried.
It was alleged that Mr White strangled his partner Ms Manning, 18, after leaving a birthday party and dumped the body near the 10th hole at Woburn golf and country club in Milton Keynes.
Thames Valley police, the force that carried out the original investigation, have today acknowledged the decision by the Court of Appeal and said they "will now work closely with the Crown Prosecution Service to collate evidence which will be put before the court when Barri White's retrial starts".
The force declined to make any further comment.