Jailed killer closer to court appeal

A Bridgnorth man who was jailed for the murder of a pubgoer he thought had been flirting with his girlfriend has won the first round of an appeal to get his conviction quashed.

Shaun William Healy, 48, of Hollybush Road, was yesterday granted permission at the Appeal Court to appeal against his conviction for the murder of Jonathan Styles in March 2001.

Healy was jailed for life in 2002 for the murder of Jonathan Styles - known locally as Johnny Rockstar - in the Friars pub, in Bridgnorth.

Mr Styles, who ran the Shropshire Wooden Floor Company from his home in Waterloo Terrace, suffered a 14cm knife wound to the neck after an altercation with Healy and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Healy admitted having a knife, but denied deliberately stabbing Mr Styles.

He was convicted of murder, however, at Birmingham Crown Court on July 25 2002 and handed a mandatory life sentence.

Yesterday, his counsel, Lord Thomas of Gressford QC, criticised Healy's trial barrister and argued the conviction was "unsafe".

Lord Justice Gage, sitting with Mr Justice Stadlen and Judge John Bevan QC, granted him permission to appeal.

At the original trial, Healy's defence barrister, Mr William Davis QC, told the jury Healy had been fearful of Mr Styles before he stabbed him.