Killer's family cash claim fails

Jeremy Bamber received a life sentence for five murders

Convicted killer Jeremy Bamber has been blocked from claiming £326,000 for being "unfairly frozen out" of his family's wealthy caravan site firm.

Bamber, 43, who is serving life for murdering five members of his family, launched a High Court action.

He claimed he was owed the money plus interest as a shareholder in Essex company, Osea Road Camp Sites Ltd.

On Wednesday the High Court ruled Bamber's claim was unsupportable in the light of his murder convictions.

His family had defended the claim and said it was yet another attempt by him to "harass and vilify" them after his latest failed attempt to overturn his convictions.

'Unfairly prejudicial'

Mr Justice Pumphrey was told Bamber sold his shares in the firm to cover legal costs arising from a failed attempt to make a £1.2m claim against his adoptive grandmother's estate.

The court was told he was no longer a part-owner of the business.

Bamber argued up until he sold the shares, the affairs of the firm had been conducted in a manner "unfairly prejudicial" to him.

He told the judge it was understandable co-owners Sarah Jane Eaton, Christine Ann Eaton, Pamela Boutflour and Robert Woodwiss Boutflour did not want anything to do with him.

'Terrible crimes'

But he argued he must be entitled to some money from the company's profits and that his claim should not be "shut out on a technicality".

He also denied harassing the family.

Mr Justice Pumphrey ruled any family arrangement made regarding part-ownership could not have survived Bamber's "terrible crimes".

Bamber's claim was "struck out" and he was ordered to pay costs.

Bamber was convicted in 1986 of shooting his adoptive parents, June and Neville Bamber, his step-sister Sheila Caffell and her six-year-old twins at their farm in Maldon.

His lawyers are submitting another appeal to the Criminal Cases Review Commission in the hope his convictions will be quashed.