Richard Deakin's killer to appeal sentence
The killer convicted of shooting Staffordshire businessman Richard Deakin is appealing against his prison sentence, it can be revealed today.
Hired gunman David Harrison, the uncle of drug kingpin John Anslow who was cleared of Mr Deakin's murder last week, was told he would die in jail when he was sent down for life.
Bilston man Harrison, who was 63 at the time of his sentencing in December 2012, has even tried to get an appeal against his whole conviction heard in court, but a judge has already knocked that request back. Harrison's appeal against his 37-year jail term will be heard at the Court of Appeal in London on April 11.
Mr Deakin, 27, was shot at his home in Meadway Street, Chasetown, in July 2010. Harrison and getaway driver Darryl Dickens were convicted of his murder.
Carol Deakin, mother of Richard, said Harrison was sending people on a 'fool's errand' with a 'desperate' appeal.
"They should give me the key and let me throw it in the sea," she said.
"How on earth he's got the gall to ask for his sentence to be shorter is unbelievable.
"I think there's been enough time wasted with the trial, he's sending everyone on a fool's errand. Prison is exactly where he deserves to be. He deserves to die there."
Father-of-two Mr Deakin, aged 27, was blasted in the chest by a sawn-off shotgun as he lay in his own bed in Meadway Street, Chasetown.
His murder, in July 2010, shocked the community. Harrison and getaway driver Darryl Dickens were convicted after a six-week trial at Birmingham Crown Court in December 2012. Harrison was aged 63 when the sentence was passed. Dickens, also from Bilston and 34 at the time, was given a minimum of 30 years.
When passing sentence, Lord Justice Roderick Evans told Harrison: "The likelihood is you will die in prison."
Addressing them both, he added: "This was a carefully planned and professionally executed contract killing.
"You were paid by people who are still at large. It involved people way beyond you. How many people is difficult, almost impossible, to say."
She said she wouldn't rest until the man who ordered her son's death was behind bars.
Today Mrs Deakin reiterated that call: "The most important person in all this is the man who ordered my son's killing and that man is still at large.
"Too many lives have already been destroyed by this and why we're allowing people like Harrison to appeal is beyond me."
