'Lady in Lake' killer to appeal

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/cumbria/7130793.stm

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A man found guilty of the "Lady in the Lake" murder of his wife is to appeal against his conviction.

Gordon Park, 64, of Barrow, was jailed for life in 2005 for killing his first wife Carol and dumping her body in Coniston Water in the Lakes in 1976.

His legal team, Clarion Solicitors, said the appeal would be based on "fresh evidence".

A jury at Manchester Crown Court heard Park bludgeoned his wife to death with an axe. Her body was found in 1997.

A statement from Park's solicitors said: "The appeal is based upon fresh evidence that was not available at the original trial, it is hoped the conviction will be quashed and a retrial ordered.

"Upon his conviction, Mr Park's family and friends launched a campaign to clear his name, claiming there was no single piece of evidence that pointed indisputably to him."

Mrs Park was dubbed the Lady in the Lake by detectives after the Raymond Chandler crime novel of the same name.

A jury at Manchester Crown Court heard Park dumped her body in Coniston Water where it lay undiscovered for 21 years.

The jury dismissed his not guilty plea after a 10-week trial.