Liverpool & Anor v R.
2014
COURT OF APPEAL (CRIMINAL DIVISION)
United Kingdom
CORAM
- LADY JUSTICE MACUR
- MR JUSTICE BEAN
Areas of Law
- Criminal Law and Procedure
2014
COURT OF APPEAL (CRIMINAL DIVISION)
United Kingdom
CORAM
AI Generated Summary
Liverpool and Bradshaw were convicted for plotting to rob and murder Joss Stone. Liverpool received a life sentence, which he appealed, arguing the term was excessive and his mental disorder reduced his culpability. Bradshaw's lower role and low IQ were also contested. The court upheld Liverpool's life sentence but reduced his minimum term due to his mental disorder. Bradshaw's sentence was adjusted to reflect his minor role. Both appeals partially succeeded, leading to reduced terms.
Judgment
Mr Justice Bean :
On 3 rd April 2013, following a trial at the Crown Court in Exeter before His Honour Judge Gilbert QC and a jury, the appellants were convicted of conspiracy to rob and murder the singer and songwriter Joss Stone. Liverpool (now aged 36) was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 10 years 8 months for the conspiracy to murder with a concurrent determinate term of 10 years imprisonment for conspiracy to rob. Bradshaw (now aged 33) was sentenced to a determinate term of 18 years imprisonment for the conspiracy to murder with a concurrent term of 8 years for the conspiracy to rob.
At one stage Liverpool sought leave to appeal against conviction but following refusal by the single judge this was, quite rightly, not renewed and we say no more about it. Liverpool wrote a number of letters containing grounds of appeal of his own composition. We have considered them carefully but there is nothing in any of them. They have in any event been superseded by the grounds of appeal against sentence drafted by Mr Laws QC, who did not appear at the trial. Bradshaw also appeals against sentence on grounds drafted by Mr Meeke QC, who did appear at the trial.
The single judge granted leave to appeal against sentence to both defendants. In the case of Liverpool he wrote that “although no criticism can be made of the judge in treating you as dangerous and imposing a life sentence, in my view it is arguable that the minimum term, reflecting a notional determinate sentence of 25 years, is excessive.”
The facts
Liverpool had an interest in music and researched different artists at a library in Manchester where he lived and where Bradshaw shared a flat with him. Liverpool recorded his thoughts and opinions in a notebook. Joss Stone was one of the artists who featured in the notebook. Liverpool’s notes suggest that he came to dislike her because she has performed at charity concerts attended by HRH Prince William and was a guest at his wedding. It is plain that Liverpool developed an obsession with Joss Stone. There are entries such as “rob and kill – Jocelyn RIP”, “body bags and rob equipment; look for river”, “find a river to dump her” and so forth. Between November 2010 and May 2011 Liverpool was in contact with another man by text message: the messages mentioned the plan to rob and kill Joss Stone. The recipient of the messages, who was asked to obtain a vehicle and weapons, did not respond.
Joss Stone owned a property in a small