The eight-year jail term handed to a killer who strangled a Thornton Heath mum and dumped her body in the boot of his car will not be reviewed by the Court of Appeal.

The parents of 25-year-old Janelle Duncan-Bailey, killed in Fairlands Avenue on January 2, last month appealed to the Attorney General's Office to consider whether Jerome McDonald's sentence for manslaughter was unduly leniant. 

But Oliver Heald QC MP, the solicitor general, decided not to refer the sentence to the Court of Appeal as he believed it judges would not increase it.

A statement from the Attorney General's Office said: "Although Jerome McDonald was responsible for the death of Janelle Duncan-Bailey, the jury acquitted him of murder and instead convicted him of manslaughter.

"This meant that the judge had to sentence on the basis that there was either loss of control or lack of intent (to kill or cause really serious harm). 

"This was an important consideration for the judge when arriving at his sentence. 

“The Solicitor understands that his decision may disappoint Ms Duncan-Bailey’s family and extends his sincerest condolences to them."

McDonald, a 31-year-old DJ, of Fairlands Avenue was jailed on September 6 after a jury cleared him of murder but convicted him of manslaughter.

Croydon North MP Steve Reed publically backed calls for a sentence review and said he had "serious concerns" about the police investigation into the killing of mum-of-two Miss Duncan-Bailey, of Pawsons Road.

Your Local Guardian: Jerome McDonald will be sentenced for manslaughter yesterday

Jerome McDonald was jailed last month


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