Cold Case Killer Cooper Seeks Conviction Review After Whole Life Sentence
Cooper Hit with Whole Life Order
Following his 2011 conviction at Swansea Crown Court, Cooper was handed a whole life minimum term. Alongside the murders, he was found guilty of rape, indecent assault, and four attempted robberies. Despite the verdict, Cooper has always proclaimed his innocence and has now launched a bid to have his conviction reviewed.
CCRC Takes On High-Stakes Review
The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), the final watchdog for potential miscarriages of justice, has received Cooper’s application. The independent body can pull in new evidence or scientific developments that were unavailable at trial. If satisfied, the CCRC can refer the case back to the Court of Appeal. This authority marks the last chance for anyone claiming wrongful conviction.
From Courtroom to TV Drama
Cooper’s chilling case inspired a gritty three-part ITV mini-series, The Pembrokeshire Murders, starring Hollywood star Luke Evans. During his trial, footage emerged of Cooper’s stint on the TV gameshow Bullseye just a month before the grisly murders of the Dixon siblings. The footage was used to match his image to a man seen using the victim’s cash card on the murder day.
Dangerous Predator Finally Caught
The judge branded Cooper a “very dangerous man, highly predatory” whose capture was only possible because of forensic advances. The convicted killer was linked to three major cases, including 1980s double murders in Pembrokeshire, and sexual assaults on teenage girls in Milford Haven. The victims were brutally killed with a double-barrelled shotgun.
From Burglary to Killer: How Police Closed in
Back in 1998, Cooper was jailed for 16 years after 31 burglary and robbery offences during the Huntsman investigation. Police began suspecting him in the unsolved Pembrokeshire double murders when new forensic tests on exhibits tied him to the crimes. The evidence revealed Cooper as the cold-blooded shotgun murderer and sex attacker.
