Cot death - woman's hope for husband

The man has applied for leave to appeal against his conviction

A Monmouthshire woman whose husband is serving life for murdering their baby is hopeful he will be released after a decision to review cot death criminal cases.

The 40-year-old man - who cannot be named for legal reasons - was jailed in March last year after he was also convicted of attempting to murder the couple's other son.

But a series of high-profile miscarriages of justice has discredited cot death expert Professor Roy Meadow, who also gave evidence in the man's case.

The spotlight was turned on trials of parents whose children had suffered unexplained deaths after solicitor Sally Clarke was freed last year. Her conviction for murdering her two sons had been overturned.

Then last month Angela Cannings, serving life for smothering her two babies, was also freed by the appeal court.

A review of almost 260 cot death cases - including that of the Monmouthshire father - is now to take place.

At the end of the day, to be honest, all my husband and I want to know is why out baby died Monmouthshire woman

The woman has stood by her husband throughout and says she is totally convinced of his innocence.

Their first baby died in 1998 aged six months. He had had a history of health problems and initially there were no suspicions at all that it was anything but a natural death.

It was only after the couple's second baby, born a year later, developed breathing problems, and was rushed to hospital where he stayed for two months, that staff became suspicious.

A nurse gave evidence at his trial that she saw him trying to smother the child in hospital - an allegation which he always strenuously denied.

The man was convicted at Cardiff Crown Court of the murder and attempted murder in December 2002 and sentenced last March. He has since applied for leave to appeal.

His wife says there are men, like her husband, in jail for similar crimes but she is worried that the courts have a different attitude to them.

Angela Cannings' conviction for killing her children was overturned

"I feel my husband has more of an uphill battle to fight because he is a man, because the courts view him differently.

"With a man they're almost a murderer, brutal, a dangerous person, yet the circumstances are very similar."

However, the woman, who has recently been reunited with the couple's surviving son, said she was optimistic about her husband's case.

"At the end of the day, to be honest, all my husband and I want to know is why our baby died."

The father's case is now being reviewed personally by the Director of Public Prosecutions.

A judge is also expected to come to a decision within three weeks on whether to allow his appeal.