Murder trial of three men delayed until next year

THE trial of three men who deny conspiring to rob and then murder a 22-year-old has been delayed until 2021.

The case of Conlan Dunnion, Euan Peters and Perrie Dunwell was listed for a mention hearing at Cardiff Crown Court yesterday.

They are charged with conspiring to rob Shafiul Islam in Newport on November 14 and murdering him on November 20 last year.

Mr Islam, from Shaftesbury, was found with serious head injuries on Tewkesbury Walk at around 11.55pm on November 14. He later died at the Royal Gwent Hospital.

A spokesman for Gwent Police said at the time: “Our thoughts remain with his family, who are being supported by specialist officers.”

Dunnion, 22, of Maesglas Avenue, Newport; Peters, 41, of Dros-Y-Morfa, Rumney, Cardiff; and Dunwell, 33, of Cold Mill Road, Newport, deny the charges against them.

Christopher Clee QC represented the Crown during the 15-minute hearing before Judge Paul Thomas QC.

Dunnion was represented by Caroline Rees QC, Peters by John Cooper QC and Dunwell by Kevin Seal.

The trial was due to start on May 18 before Mrs Justice Jefford and last for between four and six weeks. Jury trials were halted in March in a bid to stop the spread of coronavirus. A small number resumed at Cardiff Crown Court from May.

Ms Rees said two potential trial dates were available – one in September 2020 and one in February 2021.

Mr Cooper asked for the trial to be listed in mid-March, as he is involved in the Manchester Arena bombing inquiry before then.

He told the court he is the second lead counsel to take on Peters’ case, as the first lead counsel had health problems, and he would like to ensure continuity.

Ms Rees said: “These are defendants who have waited quite some time already. March is quite a long way back from the original trial date. We would prefer an earlier date.”

The judge said he did not think it would be “realistic” to expect a case involving three defendants to be listed in September, given the current Covid-19 restrictions.

Mr Seal said his client would prefer the February date and raised concerns about potential further delays.

Judge Thomas said he was “unhappy” to make a decision that would prevent Mr Cooper from continuing with the case.

But he added: “I have to bear in mind the lengthy delay there has been already in this case. With apologies to Mr Cooper, I am going to say February 8 is the trial date.”

He extended the custody time limits to February 9.