A woman jailed for life after being convicted of a brutal murder may launch an appeal after judges ruled the law she was convicted under has been wrongly interpreted.
Emma Hall, 24, of Crow Lane, Romford, was convicted for her part in the murder of Luke Harwood, 18, in 2013 along with Tony O’Toole, 34, and James Danby, 30.
Mr Harwood was killed by his housemates after being wrongly accused of rape. He was beaten so badly that his skull was crushed.
The court heard Hall instigated the attack and drove Danby and O’Toole to playing fields in Broadmead Road, Woodford Green, where the murder took place. But jurors were told it was Danby who struck the fatal blows.
Hall and O’Toole were convicted of murder under the joint enterprise law, used to convict people who could have “foreseen” violent acts by their associates.
Hall was told she would serve a minimum of 15 years, increased to 17 on appeal.
The Recorder has been told Hall is hoping to appeal her conviction after Supreme Court judges said it is wrong to treat foresight as a sufficient test.
The source, who speaks to Hall every day but did not want to be named, said: “Emma said she knows that it wont be an instant thing but if she can get her sentence reduced she has got a little light at the end of the tunnel.”
Jan Cunliffe, spokeswoman for campaign group Joint Enterprise Not Guilty By Association (JENGba), welcomed the ruling calling the law a “great injustice”.
She said the organisation would tread carefully to try and avoid causing distress to victims’ families.
“When I read these cases the first thing I do is get upset for the victim,” she added.
National charity Victim Support can help anyone worried or upset by this ruling.
Visit victimsupport.org.uk or call the support line on 08081689111.
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