Martin's friends call for pardon

The farmer says he acted in self-defence

Friends of jailed farmer Tony Martin say the Queen should grant him a pardon, after the Court of Appeal failed to overturn his conviction for killing a teenage burglar.

His lawyers say they will take the appeal to the House of Lords to try and clear the farmer's name.

Martin, jailed for life for murdering a 16-year-old Fred Barras in April 2000, had his conviction reduced to five years for manslaughter by the Court of Appeal on Tuesday.

Malcolm Starr: Martin should be freed

Martin claimed he had acted in self defence as three burglars entered his home but the original jury decided the farmer was not defending his property and had taken the law into his own hands.

Malcolm Starr, a friend and organiser of the Free Tony Martin Campaign, said the farmer should be let out.

"I know I am biased but I think the majority of people in this country would not be far behind me," he said.

Mr Starr said he was stunned by the appeal judges' ruling and called on the Queen to grant Martin a pardon.

'Petty and cruel'

"I am very disappointed, it is incredibly cruel and petty to do this to a man after all he has been through.

"I think the whole legal system has got to have a rethink on this one."

Martin's solicitor James Saunders says the case now will be taken to the House of Lords.

I don't think Tony Martin can be classed as an average man. He had a pump-action shotgun, for one thing

Tony Bone
Norfolk Farmwatch

He said Martin was disappointed not to walk free and that he was denied a retrial.

"But he is philosophical and trying to remain good-humoured," he said after the ruling.

"The fact there is light at the end of the tunnel is of great relief to him. He is very relieved to no longer be branded a murderer."

The BBC's Emma Howard said many people in the village of Emneth Hungate, near Martin's farm in Norfolk, saw the appeal ruling as a partial victory and hoped to see Martin released from prison soon.

The death of Fred Barras sparked a national debate

Tony Bone, organiser of the Norfolk Farmwatch scheme, said Martin's case had always been difficult but reducing the conviction was the right outcome.

"I have sympathy with a man who has been imprisoned in these circumstances and I certainly do not like people who go around burgling houses."

But Mr Bone said people should remember a young boy had died.

No winners

"No-one could suggest that death is an appropriate punishment for burglary," he said.

"I don't think Tony Martin can be classed as an average man. He had a pump-action shotgun, for one thing."

Martin's solicitor says the case will go to the House of Lords

Former Conservative education secretary Gillian Shephard, MP for Emneth, said Martin was let down by his first legal team and could have been spared an enormous amount of trauma.

"I cannot recall a case that has produced a more unanimous feeling - Tony Martin should not have been convicted of murder," she said.

Norman Brennan, director of the Victims of Crime Trust, said there were no winners in the Martin case.

"A young man has lost his life and Mr Martin was an innocent farmer who became a convicted murderer overnight.

"Judges and magistrates have played a big part in this very sad case in failing both parties."