Richard Deakin murderer loses bid to reduce sentence

The contract killer shot dead 27-year-old Staffordshire man Richard Deakin with a sawn-off shotgun.

He was convicted of murder in December 2012 but challenged his 37-year jail term at the Court of Appeal in London.

He also launched a bid to try to appeal against his conviction – but this was rejected. Judges yesterday ruled that his sentence for the 'carefully planned and professionally executed' murder was justified.

When originally sentenced Harrison, aged 64 and from Bilston, was told he would probably die in jail. He has consistently denied having anything to do with the July 2010 killing at the house in Meadway Street, Chasetown. Getaway driver Darryl Dickens was convicted alongside Harrison and given 30 years. Black Country drug lord John Anslow – currently serving 29 years for drug dealing and escaping from a prison van before fleeing to Cyprus – was accused of organising the murder but was found not guilty last month.

Lord Justice Beatson told Harrison: "The minimum term is indeed a long one.

"This was a carefully planned and professionally executed professional contract killing in the victim's own home by a man with previous convictions for firearms offences."

Harrison's barrister Mr Adrian Keeling QC, in a bid to get an appeal against his conviction heard by judges, told the Court of Appeal that identification evidence linking Harrison to the murder was 'weak'.

During his trial at Birmingham Crown Court, jurors heard that police informant Alan Cash identified Harrison from CCTV footage shown on BBC's Crimewatch. Cash recognised Harrison's limp and noted that his balaclava was sewn up at the mouth – an item Harrison had used before. Mr Keeling claimed Cash's evidence was of characteristics, but not of a specific individual.

But Lord Justice Beatson retorted: "The case against Harrison was based on Mr Cash's recognition, supported by a wealth of other evidence."