KILLER Dennis Holley is likely to be released from jail next summer despite legal moves to have his murder conviction reinstated.

Holley killed his girlfriend with an axe at their Elysée Estate home, but his conviction was reduced to manslaughter by the Court of Appeal in January 2003 and he was sentenced to eight years in prison.

In an unprecedented move the Attorney General, William Bailhache, has appealed against the decision, and this week he took his case to the Privy Council in Downing Street to argue a point of law which could set a legal precedent for the entire British legal system.

At appeal, Holley’s defence team had successfully argued that his alcoholism could be taken into account when deciding his guilt.

The Attorney General has challenged that argument, and the Privy Council’s ruling will lay down the rules for future murder cases.

The Privy Council view the issue so seriously that they have agreed that a panel of up to nine Law Lords should decide upon it, and the case has been adjourned until next year.