Connelly and Barker are expected to be given new identities on their release The three people jailed over Baby Peter Connelly's death have been denied leave to appeal against their sentences. The 17-month-old boy died in Haringey, north London, in August 2007. His mother Tracey, 28, and her partner Steven Barker, 33, were given minimum terms of five and 12 years for causing or allowing the baby's death. Barker's brother Jason Owen, 37, was jailed for three years. He has asked for a court hearing to renew his appeal application, the Court of Appeal said. The option is also open to Barker and Connelly. Lynne Featherstone, the MP for Hornsey and Wood Green, said: "Everyone will breathe a collective sigh of relief that they were refused leave to appeal and that no more public money and no more time needs to be spent on this. New identities "These three people have been found guilty and now need to serve their punishment." Peter had more than 50 injuries, including fractured ribs and a broken back, when he was found dead in a property in Penshurst Road, Tottenham. Barker and Connelly's names were made public in August following the expiry of an anonymity order. A judge had ordered none of the defendants could be named because the other children were still being placed with alternative carers. Due to publicity surrounding the case, it is thought all three individuals convicted are likely to be given new identities upon release to protect them from vigilante attacks. Critics have suggested there would be public anger if taxpayers' money was used to protect these individuals. In a separate court case, Barker was also given a life sentence for raping a two-year-old girl.



Bookmark with: Delicious

Digg

reddit

Facebook

StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version