Brothers appeal murder conviction

David and Terence Reed were jailed for a minimum term of 18 years

Two brothers jailed for the murder of a Teesside father-of-six have begun an appeal against their conviction.

Peter Hoe, 43, died after being found with stab wounds at his house on Jubilee Road Eston, in October 2006.

David Reed, 31, and his 29-year-old brother Terence were sentenced to life after being found guilty of murder.

Their appeal centres around whether a forensic expert at the original trial, in August 2007, had enough scientific evidence to reach her conclusion.

Peter Hoe had suffered a number of stab wounds

During the trial Teesside Crown Court heard that two pieces of plastic, said to be fragments of broken knives and containing DNA profiles of the pair, were found by the body.

A forensic scientist said that the most likely explanation was that they were handling them at the time they broke.

On Tuesday the QC for the brothers questioned whether there was enough evidence for her to make that statement.

The case at the Court of Appeal is expected to last for four days, and judgement is likely to be reserved.