Murderer's bid to appeal conviction refused

Friday 25 November 2022

The man who stabbed a woman to death and attempted to murder her elderly aunt has had his bid to appeal against the verdict rejected - but a decision on his additional appeal to reduce his life sentence has not yet been made.

Rickie Tregaskis (53) had sought permission to appeal against his convictions for the murder and attempted murder. He was also appealing against the jail sentence of a minimum of 20 years imposed for the two crimes.

Advocate Rebecca Morley-Kirk, representing him, told the Court of Appeal this week that there was no forensic evidence linking Tregaskis to the crime scene, in Le Geyt flats in St. Saviour, and that some witnesses were uncertain if the man they saw nearby at the time was Tregaskis.

Appealing against the sentence, she pointed out that Tregaskis had been only 21 when the attacks took place and is now confined to a wheelchair with multiple sclerosis.

She argued that the sentence should be reduced to 15 or 16 years owing to his poor health.

The Court of Appeal panel, comprising President Clare Montgomery, former Bailiff Sir William Bailhache and Bailiff of Guernsey Richard McMahon, refused Tregaskis permission to appeal against the verdict.

But they have reserved judgement over whether he deserves a reduction in his sentence.

Tregaskis had been convicted of the murder of 59-year-old Barbara Griffin and attempted murder of her 85-year-old aunt Emma Anton after an eight-day trial in May this year.

The attacks took place in the early hours of 2 August 1990. Tregaskis had been acquitted in a trial in 1991 but was re-tried this year following a change in the 'double jeopardy' law.