Awan and Nazir appealed against their jail terms in January 2008 but the original sentences were upheld. Judge Justice Davis said he had taken into account "moving" statements from Parker's family. Ali appealed his sentence in July 2009 and also had his sentence upheld. After the first two appeals, Parker's father suggested that the killers of his son should never be freed. Justice Davis said that had the crime occurred post-2005, it is likely that significantly higher minimum terms would have been imposed on the perpetrators, owing to reforms in the Criminal Justice Act 2003. These reforms recommend a minimum term of 30 years for racially aggravated murder.
