Man convicted of brutal murder of Norwich woman Kerri McAuley to have appeal against sentence heard

Kerri McAuley alongside her mother Lesley. Picture: courtesy of McAuley family (Image: courtesy of McAuley family)

Joe Storey, 27, was jailed for a minimum of 24 years in June after he was found guilty of murdering Ms McAuley following a 'sustained and brutal' attack in January.

But Storey is due to appear at the Court of Appeal in London today (Wednesday, November 29) where he will have his appeal against sentence heard.

The date for today's hearing was announced earlier this month, just as Ms McAuley's family helped this paper to launch a fundraising campaign in Kerri's memory.

The application to appeal his sentence was appeal was granted just three months after being jailed for a minimum of 24 years after his conviction for the murder of the 32-year-old mother-of-two.

Picture of Kerri McAuley. Submitted by Kerri's family. (Image: Archant)

Speaking at the end of September Ms McAuley's mother Lesley, who has recently undergone a triple heart bypass operation, said she is shocked and angry that the killer's appeal has been granted.

She said it is as if she and the rest of her family are being tortured by Storey all over again.

Lesley said: 'I'm just shocked I really am. I'm really angry.

'He had put an appeal in against his sentence - apparently he can do that twice.

'He's put it in and they've accepted. It's going to go to London in front of three judges.

'I don't know what to say to be honest, I'm just shocked.

It's torture all the time - he will do whatever he can; I just feel he's torturing us all and now its going to London.'

Storey, formerly of Murrells Court, inflicted 19 separate injuries to the head and face of Ms McAuley following a 'sustained and brutal' attack in her Norwich home before leaving her there to die alone.

Jailing Storey in June Judge Stephen Holt described it as 'one of the worst cases of domestic violence that have come before these courts'.

The court heard Storey had been the subject of four restraining orders against previous partners, including Ms McAuley.

It also emerged that Storey, who has four previous convictions covering 11 offences, had been jailed for offences against previous partners.