Lawyer in the news

Who? Michael Strain, 35-year old criminal partner at three-partner north Wales firm Martin & Nierada.

Why is he in the news? Represents 17-year-old Mathew Hardman, who is appealing against the conviction for murdering 90-year-old Mabel Leyshon at her home in Anglesey, for which he received a life sentence last month.

Mr Hardman is accused of breaking into the victim's home, stabbing her, cutting out her heart and then drinking her blood, in a ritualistic 'vampire' killing.

Mr Strain has applied for leave and is currently awaiting a response.

Background: LLB from the University of Glamorgan 1986-1989 followed by Law Society finals at the College of Law in Chester (1989-1990).

Went directly to do articles at Martin & Nierada, qualifying in 1992 and was made partner the following year.

Route to the case: Duty solicitor.

Thoughts on the case: 'The whole circumstances of the case are quite bizarre.

Here is a nice 17-year-old boy, from a normal background, with no previous convictions and no record of strange behaviour, who is supposed to have brutally murdered someone - and not left any fingerprints.

Some of his DNA was found on a window-sill in the house, but he used to be the paperboy for the property, so there are a number of ways the DNA could have been transferred.

There is some strong evidence against him - his alibi doesn't quite match up - but it is by no means comprehensive.'

Dealing with the media: 'I was under instruction not to discuss the case with the media whilst it was live, as it would not have been to our benefit to promote its unusual nature.

The media has been fair to me, but they have really put Mathew's family under the spotlight and they have left the area as a result.

With the case being in the public eye, it has been very time-consuming and thus I have found it hard to pay the proper attention to the rest of my practice.'

Andrew Towler