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Manning murder conviction quashed Manning murder conviction quashed
(10 minutes later)
A man jailed after the murder of an 18-year-old woman has won his appeal against conviction at the High Court.A man jailed after the murder of an 18-year-old woman has won his appeal against conviction at the High Court.
In 2002, Barri White, of Bletchley, Buckinghamshire, was jailed for five years for killing his girlfriend Rachel Manning in 2000.In 2002, Barri White, of Bletchley, Buckinghamshire, was jailed for five years for killing his girlfriend Rachel Manning in 2000.
His conviction was quashed by the Court of Appeal and a retrial ordered.His conviction was quashed by the Court of Appeal and a retrial ordered.
The court also allowed an appeal by Keith Hyatt against his conviction for conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. He will not face a re-trial.The court also allowed an appeal by Keith Hyatt against his conviction for conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. He will not face a re-trial.
A link between the men and Ms Manning, said to be proved by particles from a lighter, was questioned at the Court of Appeal.
Flint particles from a lighter were matched to Ms Manning's skirt after her disfigured body was dumped at Woburn Golf Club in Buckinghamshire, in 2000.
'Confused, imprecise, unreliable'
However, both men - whose cases have featured on the BBC's Rough Justice programme - have said they are victims of a miscarriage of justice and their convictions should be overturned as "unsafe".
John Coffey QC said forensic evidence had now been "heavily undermined" by fresh scientific experiments.
Central to the prosecution case was the evidence of geologist, Professor Kenneth Pye, who pointed to an unusual "assemblage" of seven particles found both on Ms Manning's skirt and the passenger seat of Mr Hyatt's van, which was said to have been used to transport her body.
Two of the particles were flint debris from a disposable lighter which Professor Pye said provided "strong support" for a link between Ms Manning's skirt and Mr Hyatt's van.
Co-defendant Keith Hyatt, of Bedford, also won his appeal
Mr Hyatt was found guilty of perverting the course of justice.
However, Mr Coffey argued that further scientific tests since the trial, carried out by three experts, cast serious doubt on the reliability of Professor Pye's testimony.
Arguing that the evidence relating to the particles was "confused, imprecise, unreliable and open to many interpretations", the barrister said a central plank of the prosecution case had been "heavily undermined, if not completely swept away".
Professor Pye's interpretation of the particles was quite simply "incorrect", he told Lord Justice Keene, Mr Justice Jack and Mr Justice Irwin.
It was the prosecution case at trial that Mr White strangled Ms Manning after an argument in Milton Keynes, then called Mr Hyatt to help dispose of her body.
Mr White insisted that he had left Ms Manning in Milton Keynes after the night out.