Aston shooting four denied appeal

Four men were convicted of killing Charlene (left) and Letisha

Four men convicted of murdering two teenage girls outside a New Year party have failed in their bid to appeal to the House of Lords.

Students Charlene Ellis, 18, and Letisha Shakespeare, 17, were killed by a Mac 10 sub-machine gun.

It was fired from a car outside the Uniseven hair salon in Aston, Birmingham, on 2 January 2003.

Judges who last month rejected appeals by the four against convictions refused them permission to appeal to Law Lords.

The four are serving life sentences.

THE CONVICTED MEN Marcus Ellis, 24, of Devonshire Avenue, Winson Green, Birmingham Michael Gregory, 23, of Ryland Street, Ladywood, Birmingham Nathan Martin, 26, of South Road, Smethwick Rodrigo Simms, 20, of Whitehouse Drive, Smethwick

Trial judge Mr Justice Goldring recommended minimum terms of 35 years in the case of Ellis, Gregory and Martin and that Simms should serve at least 27 years in jail before he can be considered for parole.

Defence lawyers argued that the trial was unfair because, in a move unprecedented in modern times, prosecution witnesses were allowed to give their evidence anonymously to allay fear of reprisals.

A hearing in London on Thursday was told that if an appeal to the Law Lords was refused the case would probably be taken to the European Court of Human rights.