Webb, Michael

Michael Webb was convicted on 27 March 1996 at Stafford Crown Court of murdering Clarence Cooper at his Walsall home in August 1994.

One co-defendant was also convicted of murder and a second co-defendant was convicted of manslaughter. Mr Webb was sentenced to life imprisonment.

The prosecution contended that Mr Webb was the leader of a gang involved in a joint enterprise to burgle 84-year-old Mr Cooper’s house. Mr Cooper was repeatedly stabbed in the neck but died from asphyxia as a result of being gagged with a handkerchief.

The Full Court dismissed an application for leave to appeal on 15 May 1997. Having made two unsuccessful applications to the CCRC, in September 2004 the CCRC received further correspondence from Mr Webb’s representatives which led it to reconsider its earlier decision not to refer Mr Webb’s case to the Court of Appeal.

Following review, the CCRC concluded that the House of Lords’ decision in the case of R v Powell and English provided Mr Webb with grounds for challenging his conviction as the jury at Mr Webb’s trial had been misdirected on the state of mind necessary for a secondary party in a joint enterprise murder.

The CCRC referred the conviction in June 2005.

The Court of Appeal upheld the conviction in April 2006.