Killer of Alfie Steele, 9, denied conviction appeal

Alfie Steele was murdered at his home in Droitwich by his mum's partner

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A man who was jailed for life for the murder of nine-year-old Alfie Steele, his partner's son, has been refused leave to appeal against his conviction.

Appeal court judges issued their ruling on Dirk Howell, who was jailed for at least 32 years for killing Alfie, who was repeatedly beaten and held down in a cold bath at his home in Droitwich, Worcestershire.

Alfie died in February 2021 after being found with 50 injuries on his body, having been hit with a leather belt and "dunked" in the bath.

His mother, Carla Scott, was found guilty of manslaughter and child cruelty, while Howell was convicted of murder, following a trial in 2023.

The six-week trial of the pair, at Coventry Crown Court, heard Alfie was denied food as an act of cruelty and routinely subjected to other "sinister" punishments.

These included being locked outside his home in cold weather and made to stand in a statue-like pose.

In his defence, Howell tried to argue Alfie had suffered an epileptic fit and fallen asleep in the bath.

'Appeal grounds unarguable'

However, at the Court of Appeal, Lord Justice Green, sitting in London with Mr Justice Jay and Mr Justice Johnson, said Howell had wanted to appeal against his conviction on the basis the cause of Alfie's death "could not be ascertained" and that epilepsy "could not be ruled out".

The judges also said Howell had claimed there were "corrupt payments" between the police and carers, while his barristers had "improperly and unfairly" represented him.

In handing down their ruling. the judges said all the claims were rejected by a previous Court of Appeal judge, who said the issues had been "squarely canvassed by the jury" during the pair's trial.

Lord Justice Green said: "We unreservedly agree with the conclusions of the single judge that the grounds for appeal are unarguable.

"The application for permission to appeal is refused."