Tom Little KC obtains double jeopardy conviction for murder and rape dating back to 1975

News | Tue 20th Dec, 2022

In 1976 Dennis McGrory was acquitted of the murder of his common-law niece who was 15 years old at the time of her murder in 1975. At that time there was no ability to conduct DNA comparisons. However, in 2019 following the advances in scientific techniques high and low vaginal swabs taken from the deceased were analysed and showed potential matches to the DNA of the defendant. Tom Little KC advised the DPP on making a ‘double jeopardy’ application to the Court of Appeal to quash the 1976 acquittal. Tom made that application in 2021 and the acquittal was quashed by the Court of Appeal. The defendant was charged with offences of murder and rape and was convicted on 19^th December 2022 following a trial prosecuted by Tom.

Press coverage of the conviction can be found here: Sex killer cleared of murdering girl nearly 50 years ago convicted in double jeopardy retrial