Robbery conviction to be challenged

The case was heard at Bradford Crown Court in October 1996

A man convicted of a robbery in Bradford nearly nine years ago has won a battle to take his case to the Court of Appeal.

Michael Holliday pleaded guilty at Bradford Crown Court in October 1996 and was sentenced to 12 years in prison.

This followed an incident in February 1995 in which a shot was fired and a security guard was robbed of £15,000 while making a collection from a travel agency in Lumb Lane, Bradford.

Now the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) has referred the case to the Court of Appeal as it thinks there is a realistic possibility that the conviction will be overturned.

Two approaches

The decision comes after a long campaign by Holliday and his lawyers to have his case looked at again.

He sought leave to appeal against his sentence in November 1996 but a judge refused his application.

This was followed by two unsuccessful approaches to the CCRC in a bid to have the conviction quashed.

But following a third application in June 2003, the commission agreed to look at the evidence again and this has resulted in the referral to the Appeal Court.

A spokesman for the CCRC said he was unable to say what new evidence had led to this decision.

A date has yet to be set for the hearing at the Court of Appeal.

No one was available for comment at Holliday's solicitors.