Rachel Manning murder – White and Hyatt freed on appeal
TWO men convicted after the murder of 18-year-old Rachel Manning seven years ago have had their convictions quashed by the Appeal Court.
Barri White, aged 28, of Epsom Grove, Bletchley was jailed for life in 2002 after a jury convicted him of strangling his girlfriend. Her disfigured body was found at Woburn golf course.
Keith Hyatt, aged 55, of Bedford, was cleared of murder at their trial but found guilty of perverting the course of justice by helping to dispose of Rachel's body. He was jailed for five years.
Today (Thurs) at London's Appeal Court Lord Justice Keene, sitting with Mr Justice Jack and Mr Justice Irwin declared both convictions "unsafe". A retrial was ordered for Mr White and he was given conditional bail. As Mr Hyatt has served his sentence he will not be retried.
There were emotional scenes in court, including whoops of joy and tears, with members of all three families present.
At the original trial it was alleged that Mr White and Rachel had gone to a Milton Keynes nightclub following a fancy dress birthday party. After an argument he was said to have strangled her then called Mr Hyatt to help dispose of the body in his van.
Mr White insisted he left Rachel in Milton Keynes. She called him from a phone box asking for a lift but when he and Mr Hyatt drove to pick her up she had disappeared.
Lord Justice Keene ordered that because of the retrial detailed reasons for their decision can not be reported.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Milton Keynes
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 12 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: East
