A man who was jailed for life for the murder of a teenager suffering from leukaemia, will be retried.

Three judges at the Criminal Appeal Court in London overturned Robert Cairns' conviction yesterday after new forensic evidence came to light.

Cairns, 26, was jailed for the murder of Justin Hayward at Lewes Crown Court in March 1998.

Now he faces a retrial after the judges ruled the new evidence may have altered the jury's decision had it been available to them during the trial.

The court heard how at the time of the incident, Cairns was staying at the Royal Promenade Hotel, Marine Drive, Brighton, along with his friend Paul Maynard, then 21, and Mr Hayward.

Hayward was "attacked with appalling ferocity" by two men on the seafront near Duke's Mound on October 19, 1996, said Lord Justice Kennedy.

He added: "There were injuries to the face and scalp consistent with blows from shod feet and punches, followed by over 40 stab and puncture wounds to the side of the neck and to the face. The stab wounds were the cause of death."

Mr Hayward, 19, who had recently left hospital where he had been treated for leukaemia for nine months, was "left to die", said Lord Justice Kennedy, sitting with Mr Justice Brian Smedley and Mr Justice Goldring.

He used to live in Copthorne, near Crawley, and had attended Holy Trinity CE School in Gossops Green.

Cairns and Maynard were later arrested and charged with murder. Although Cairns was convicted of murder and jailed for life, Maynard was cleared of the charge and convicted instead of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

In the Appeal Court, Cairns' lawyers produced new evidence from two forensic experts relating to blood stains later found on articles of clothing.

Overturning Cairns' conviction, Lord Justice Kennedy said the new evidence, had it been heard at the trial, "could well have had a significant effect" on the outcome. He added it was "impossible to say what the jury would have decided" had the evidence been shown to them.

He said: "Despite the time which has elapsed since the offence, we consider that there should be a retrial." Cairns will remain in custody until the hearing.

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