THE MAN found guilty of murdering Dorset millionaire Sir Richard Sutton has launched a bid to appeal his conviction.
Thomas Schreiber received a life sentence after a jury found him guilty of Sir Richard's murder and the attempted murder of his own mother and the baronet's partner, Anne Schreiber.
During the trial at Winchester Crown Court last month, the 35-year-old defendant admitted carrying out the “horror show” knife attack on the pair at Sir Richard's estate near Gillingham, Dorset.
The incident took place on the eighth anniversary of the death of Thomas Schreiber's father.
He was handed the life sentence with a minimum term of 36 years behind bars by the judge, the Honourable Mr Justice Garnham.
A Court of Appeal spokesman told the Daily Echo an application from the defendant had been received to challenge his conviction and sentence.
The spokesman said the request, which had been received in the past week, was in the early stages of the process.
The application will first be considered by a single judge over whether to give leave to appeal but this might not happen for several months.
Meanwhile, the Attorney General's Office (AGO) has received a request to consider Thomas Schreiber's sentence under the unduly lenient sentence scheme.
If officers believe it should be challenged, a Court of Appeal process could be launched in an effort to get the sentence increased.
A spokesperson for the AGO said: "The law officers have 28 days from sentencing to consider the case and make a decision.”
As reported, during the trial Thomas Schreiber admitted Sir Richard’s manslaughter but said he “lost control” of himself and had not intended to hurt Sir Richard or his mother.
Ms Schreiber suffered up to 15 separate injuries on her head and body, including a partially severed spinal cord. Sir Richard suffered three deep wounds to his face and five to his chest.
The attack happened at Sir Richard’s Moorhill estate near Gillingham, which he shared with the Schreiber family following the separation of the defendant’s parents.
The defendant, of Gillingham, blamed lockdown for worsening his mental health by forcing him to remain at Moorhill.
In sentencing Thomas Schreiber, Mr Justice Garnham said: “Your actions have caused utter devastation in the Sutton and Schreiber families.”
He added: “You treated Sir Richard’s house and possessions as if they were your own.
“You showed neither him or your mother any respect instead during your time in their home you displayed a breath-taking sense of entitlement, at times you left Sir Richard feeling like a prisoner in his own home.”
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