Lawyers defend 'sex slurs' tactic

Geraldine Palk's personal life came under close scrutiny

Lawyers defending the man convicted of murdering Cardiff shipping clerk Geraldine Palk have rejected claims they unfairly tried to blacken the dead woman's name.

And they said their client, Mark Hampson, was considering an appeal against his conviction for the murder of the 26-year-old in December 1990.

There were times when we wondered who was actually on trial

Geraldine Palk's brother, Neil

The lawyers are facing mounting criticism that their tactic during the four-week trial at Bristol Crown Court, was solely to discredit Miss Palk's character, relationships and sexual past.

After a guilty verdict was delivered, even the judge, Mrs Justice Hallett, criticised Hampson's lawyers for basing their case on what she called a "detailed examination of Ms Palk's private life."

No-one from Rhondda-based KTP Solicitors who represented Hampson in the case was prepared to be interviewed over the criticism facing the trial team but the company did issue a statement.

It said the report about the defence's tactics were "ill-informed and without foundation" as "Miss Palk's attitude to casual sex was clearly of the utmost relevance".

Hampson: jailed for life

The firm said: "Whilst the feelings of Miss Palk's family are understood by all those representing Mr Hampson, their paramount professional duty was to ensure that his case was fully placed before the jury so that justice could be done in this most difficult and serious of cases."

Cardiff North MP Julie Morgan - whose constituency includes Fairwater, where Ms Palk was from - said she would complain to Solicitor General Harriet Harman about the way women were treated during sensitive cases.

She claimed that in rape trials, victims' reputations were often "dragged through the mud".

"This is the sort of reason why many women hesitate to go to court with cases like rape or domestic abuse - because they, the victims, almost end up being the defendants," she said.

"It is a common tactic of the defence to try to take their lifestyles and personalities apart."

The slurs are known to have upset the Palk family.

Reputation 'tarnished'

Speaking at the end of the case, Miss Palk's brother Neil, said: "Throughout the entirety of this trial, we have had to endure the constant and relentless character assassination of our sister.

"Indeed, there were times when we wondered who was actually on trial.

"Hampson's legal team's only defence was to tarnish our sister's name at every opportunity."

Hampson showed little emotion as the verdict was read out on Monday. Miss Palk's family broke down and comforted each other.

The judge Mrs Justice Hallett described Hampson as "vicious and violent man who'd not the slightest hint of remorse".

"Character assassination" claim : Neil Palk

Hampson's conviction via new DNA evidence ends almost 12 years of police investigations into one of the most baffling murders in south Wales.

Ms Palk had spent the evening of 21 December 1990 with friends at an office party in the city centre, but never returned home.

When her body was found the following morning, just yards from her home in Fairwater, it was discovered she had been raped and stabbed repeatedly.

Patrick Harrington QC, prosecuting, had told the court that carpet fitter Hampson had threatened Ms Palk with a knife and forced her to walk to nearby playing fields where he made her strip.

"He then sexually assaulted her and murdered her in a frenzied attack, stabbing and slashing her body more than 80 times," he said.