The Criminal Court of Appeal will sit at Cardiff Crown Court next week (Tuesday 16 October - Thursday 18 October).

The move may lead to a court regularly sitting in Wales during each legal term so that more appeals from the principality will, so far as practicable, be heard in the principality.

On Tuesday 16 October, the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Judge, Mr Justice Wilkie and Mr Justice Singh will hear an appeal by John Pope against his conviction for of the murder of Karen Skipper following a retrial at Newport Crown Court in July 2011.

On Wednesday 17 October they will hear five cases including a renewed application by John Cooper for permission to appeal his convictions for the 1985 murders of brother and sister Richard and Helen Thomas, and Oxfordshire couple Peter and Gwenda Dixon in 1989. Mr Cooper was convicted of the four murders at Swansea Crown Court in May 2011.

The Court will continue to sit on Thursday 18 October when Mr Justice Wilkie and Mr Justice Singh will hear a further five cases.

All the cases being heard were heard at first instance in Crown Courts in Wales.

-ends-

Notes to Editors:

Cases are subject to last minute changes and you should check the court listings the afternoon before for confirmation.