Ex-gang member Dwaine George's murder appeal based on gunshot residue

Dwaine George was freed last year after serving 12 years for murder

The Court of Appeal is to hear the case of a former Manchester gang member who was convicted of murder.

Dwaine George was jailed for 12 years after teenager Daniel Dale was shot dead in Harpurhey.

He has always denied any involvement in the 2001 killing but was convicted on the basis of particles of gunshot residue.

But forensic consultant Philip Boyce told BBC Inside Out North West the levels were "insignificant."

Mr Boyce said: "I would be advising the police that those levels are so low that you really can't come to any conclusion. In effect, they are insignificant."

Mr George was a member of the Cheetham Hill gang.

'Partly responsible'

His case has been prepared by law students at Cardiff University working for the Innocence Project - set up to represent people it believes were wrongly convicted.

While in prison, Mr George converted to Islam and gained a first-class honours degree in social sciences.

Despite being out of prison, he said he feels unable to escape his past.

He said: "I partly feel responsible because it was my group of friends that was actually responsible for his murder."

A date has not yet been set for the appeal court hearing. The Criminal Cases Review Commission referred it to the higher court last November.

The basis of the review was "new scientific evidence, relating to gunshot residue".