Appeal over 30-year-old murder

The men were released by the then Home Secretary, William Whitelaw

Lawyers for two men convicted of murdering a Luton postmaster more than 30 years ago are to launch posthumous appeals against their convictions.

The Criminal Cases Review Commission has referred the convictions of David Cooper, who died in July 1995, and Michael McMahon, who died in July 1999, for a fresh Appeal Court hearing.

The pair were convicted at the Central Criminal Court on 19 March 1970 of the murder of Mr Reginald Stevens, who was shot in Luton in 1969. Both were sentenced to life imprisonment.

The murder was said by the prosecution at the men's trial to be the culmination of a botched robbery bid at Mr Stevens' post office.

Earlier appeals dismissed

Cooper and McMahon protested their innocence until the end. But both died without clearing their names.

On 26 February 1971, their appeals against conviction, and that of a co-defendant Patrick Murphy, were dismissed by the Court of Appeal.

On 13 November 1973, Mr Murphy's conviction, which had been referred to the Court of Appeal by the Home Office, was quashed.

The Home Office referred the cases of Mr Cooper and Mr McMahon to the Court of Appeal, but both convictions were upheld on 12 February 1975.

Applications by both men for leave to appeal to the House of Lords were refused on 9 May 1975.

There was a further reference by the Home Office to the Court of Appeal, but both appeals were dismissed on 22 July 1976.

Released by home secretary

A further application by Mr McMahon for leave to appeal to the House of Lords was dismissed on 12 October 1976.

Another reference to the Court of Appeal was made by the Home Office, which asked if new evidence could be considered, but on 11 April 1978 the Court gave its opinion that the evidence should be rejected.

On 18 July 1980, Mr Cooper and Mr McMahon were released on the order of the then Home Secretary, William Whitelaw.

The cases are due to be heard at London's Appeal Court on Monday by Lord Justice Kennedy, Mr Justice Cresswell and Mr Justice Bennett.