PROLIFIC THIEF MICHAEL WEIR JAILED FOR 1998 'DOUBLE JEOPARDY' MURDERS - BBC NEWS
Michael Weir, of Hackney, was jailed for life after being found guilty of two counts of murder in a double jeopardy case for murders committed in 1998.
He violently assaulted 78-year-old war veteran Leonard Harris and mother-of-three Rose Seferian, 83, during two burglaries five weeks apart.
Weir stole a signet ring and gold watch from Mr Harris and ripped diamond rings from Ms Seferian's fingers.
Initially, his conviction for murder was quashed by the Court of Appeal in 2000, but he was retried under the double jeopardy law after new forensic evidence linked him to the crimes, making him the first to be convicted twice for the same murders.
During the attacks, the police failed to match his palm print initially; it was only in 2017 that the fingerprint was matched, boosted by DNA evidence, leading to Weir's conviction.
He will serve a minimum term of 30 years.
Court Outcome
Conviction and Sentencing Details
Sentenced
Detected legal outcome
tially; it was only in 2017 that the fingerprint was matched, boosted by DNA evidence, leading to Weir's conviction. He will serve a minimum term of 30 years.
Prison sentence
for life
Michael Weir, of Hackney, was jailed for life after being found guilty of two counts of murder in a double jeopardy case for murders committed in 1998
