Michael Shirley has always protested his innocence

A former Royal Navy sailor, who has spent 16 years in prison for a murder he says he did not commit, will have his case reassessed at the High Court in July.

Michael Shirley, from Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, was jailed for life in 1988 for the murder and rape of 24-year-old Portsmouth barmaid Linda Cooke.

He completed the recommended minimum 15 years of his life sentence last year, but was refused parole because he still protested his innocence and so "failed to address his offending".

Shirley was granted leave to appeal against his conviction nearly three years ago, but in July last year he failed to win his release on bail pending a fresh appeal.

'Staying optimistic'

On Wednesday, Shirley's family welcomed the news that the appeal dates had been set.

His father Dave said: "We are very pleased.

"There has always been evidence to prove his innocence. Now I feel even more confident."

But Mr Shirley's mother, Pat, said her son was not getting his hopes up yet.

"He's the same as us," she said.

"He is staying very optimistic, but like he always says, we will have to wait and see. I will get excited when we walk into court."

The two-day appeal hearing will start on 3 July.