Man loses niece murder appeal

Michael Mullen, now 22, had waived his right to be present at the London courtroom to hear an application for leave to appeal against the length of his tariff being argued before three judges.

After hearing submissions that the 35-year period was "excessive" in the light of his age and early guilty plea, Sir Igor Judge, sitting with Mr Justice Forbes and Mr Justice Mackay, rejected the application.

Sir Igor described Mullen's crime as "dreadful" and ruled that the sentencing judge at Leeds Crown Court last July had reached the "right decision".

Mullen, who was jailed for life after pleading guilty to the rape and murder of toddler Casey Leigh Mullen, was told by Mr Justice Simon at the Crown Court: "You are a very dangerous man who is capable of lethal, violent, sexual crimes against children and you will continue to be so for the foreseeable future."

Sir Igor said: "It must be said that this applicant was not a child or a teenager.

"He must have known exactly what he was doing and he cannot have been in any doubt whatsoever about the fragility and defencelessness of his victim."

Mullen, of Lawrence Road, Leeds, was arrested after the child was found in a pool of blood at her home in Oak Tree Crescent, Gipton, Leeds, on February 11 last year.

A post-mortem examination showed that death was caused by compression to the neck with a thin ligature .

The 35-year period is the least he must serve behind bars before he can be considered for parole.