Nine teenagers found guilty of the murder of an 18-year-old as he left a funfair are a stage closer to having their convictions quashed.
Jack Woodley's mother, Zoey McGill, said she was ‘absolutely broken’ after a High Court judge granted permission for an appeal hearing.
The young men, who were all aged 14 to 17 when he was savagely beaten and stabbed as he left Houghton Feast in October 2021, are currently in custody serving life sentences.
Jurors found ten youths equally guilty of the killing after hearing each played their part, although it was actually a 15-year-old boy who delivered the fatal wound with a ‘Rambo-style’ knife.
Read more: Judge's sentencing remarks after Jack Woodley murder trial
Mrs Justice Maura McGowan has now granted ‘leave to appeal’ to the nine other boys who are contesting the conviction secured under controversial joint enterprise legislation.
The next stage is for a hearing to be listed before the Court of Appeal in London.
Judges could refuse the appeal, or allow it and order the original court to enter an order of acquittal, overturning the original verdict so they would be ‘not guilty’.
It is possible an alternative offence, such as manslaughter, could be considered, or they can quash the conviction and order a re-trial.
The families of the nine teenagers who are appealing their convictions argue the boys did not intend to kill Jack and should not have been convicted of murder.
They are being supported by JENGbA (Joint Enterprise Not Guilty by Association), a group which campaigns on behalf of those convicted under the controversial Joint Enterprise law, is supporting the families of the defendants.
The mother one of the boys, who is now 18, but still cannot be identified for legal reasons, said: "We are so pleased that the judge has granted us the right to appeal the convictions."
But Jack’s mother, Zoey McGill, from Newton Aycliffe, said she was ‘absolutely broken’ at the ruling.
She said: “It is killing me having this hanging over us like this. It is so wrong.”
“The evidence was there what they did.”
Jack, was making his way home from the Houghton Feast fair when he was surrounded by a large group who punched, kicked and stamped on him before he was stabbed in the back.
He died in hospital the following night.
Read more: Mum of murdered Aycliffe teen and mum of convicted killer clash over appeal
Zoey said: “The fact they even get the chance to appeal after the jury found them all guilty of joint enterprise murder is an insult.
“Poor Jack has lost his whole life and we have lost ours.
“I am that poorly I’m left unable to work because of the treatment I need.
“The taxpayer once again will be footing the bill for the next circus act.”
Read next:
- Jack Woodley trial jury judge outlines the law as it applies in the murder case
- Mum of Aycliffe teen's convicted killer pleads innocence
- County Durham mum still visits grave every night
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It thought the appeal hearing could take place in the next few months.
Zoey said: “I am going to London when I get the date to fight for Jack and I will be there.
“They don’t deserve to ever be free after the horrific attack on Jack.
“I hope they throw away the key.”
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