Baby deaths mother can now appeal

Anthony remains in jail despite calls for her release

A woman who claims she was wrongly convicted of killing two of her babies has been told she can appeal.

Donna Anthony was jailed for life in 1998 for murdering 11-month-old Jordan in February 1996 and four-month-old Michael in March 1997.

On Wednesday, the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) referred Anthony's case to the Court of Appeal.

The CCRC took it on in September 2003, following an unsuccessful appeal by Anthony, of Yeovil, Somerset, in 2000.

Last year, the Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith, said she should be freed on bail.

There was no direct evidence against her George Hawkes Anthony's solicitor

He told Channel 4 News: "I believe because this was a case as we see it of sudden infant death closely analogous to that in Angela Cannings' case, then it does seem to me to be a case where there ought to be bail."

But Anthony remains in jail.

Bail is only possible if there is a legal due process in place, which there now is.

In 2004, the Attorney General announced a review of 297 cases following a judgment in the Angela Cannings' case.

Ms Cannings, from Wiltshire, was jailed in 2002 for smothering seven-week-old Jason in 1991 and 18-week-old Matthew in 1999.

Her conviction was quashed in December 2003 when key medical evidence against her was discredited.

Paediatrician Professor Sir Roy Meadow was involved for the prosecution in both cases.

State of shock

Anthony's solicitor, George Hawkes, told the BBC: "I imagine she will be in a state of shock now.

"She has been waiting for this for a long time.

"There was no direct evidence against her."

The CCRC said: "The case was given priority in January 2004 and immediately allocated for review, following the Court of Appeal's judgment in the case of Angela Cannings.

"The commission has considered a range of issues, including new expert medical evidence, and has now decided to refer the conviction to the Court of Appeal."