Suffolk killer refused appeal bid

Steve Wright was jailed for a whole life term

Suffolk serial killer Steve Wright has been refused leave to appeal.

Wright, 50, was jailed for life at Ipswich Crown Court in February after being found guilty of the murders of five women.

He claimed he was unable to receive a fair trial in Ipswich, and his legal team did not advise him correctly when he took the stand in his own defence.

But a judge has written to Wright, refusing his appeal, saying the trial was fair and his defence did their job.

Wright was sentenced after a six-week trial where jurors unanimously found him guilty of all five murders.

Legal aid refused

The naked bodies of Gemma Adams, Tania Nicol, Anneli Alderton, Paula Clennell and Annette Nicholls were found over a 10-day period near Ipswich in December 2006.

Wright was given a whole life sentence and told he would spend the rest of his life in prison.

In his appeal bid, Wright suggested another witness, who had been a suspect in the case, should have been called to give evidence.

He now has 14 days to resubmit his grounds for appeal, which would be considered by a panel of three judges, however he has been refused legal aid and would have to fund such a move himself.