FAMILIES of two of Steve Wright's victims have called for an end to the serial killer's attempts to overturn his conviction for murdering five women.

Kate McGrath

FAMILIES of two of Steve Wright's victims have called for an end to the serial killer's attempts to overturn his conviction for murdering five women.

The 50-year-old's second and final attempt to get leave to appeal was thrown out by three judges at the High Court in London yesterday.

After the hearing Wright's elder brother David, who lives near Bury St Edmunds, said they would continue to pursue their case through the Criminal Cases Review Commission.

However, the fathers of Gemma Adams and Paula Clennell said enough was enough. Miss Adams, 25, and Miss Clennell, 24, were murdered in late 2006, along with fellow Ipswich sex workers Tania Nicol, 19, Anneli Alderton, 24, and Annette Nicholls, 29.

Wright, formerly of London Road, Ipswich, was convicted of their murders and is serving life without parole.

Brian Adams, father of Gemma, said: “I think I speak for all the families when I say again that his guilt was proved beyond all reasonable doubt at the court hearing and he should now let it lie.

“It is quite obvious that he is a guilty man and it is at the expense of the taxpayer that he keeps wishing to prove otherwise. I think it has gone on too long and is a disgrace.”

His views were echoed by the father of Paula Clennell, Brian. He said: “He killed five women, but he also destroyed five families. Brothers, sisters and mums and dads have all been destroyed by his actions. I think he should rot in hell.

“I want this to be the end of it so our daughters can rest in peace.”

David Wright said yesterday's hearing was more in hope than anticipation.

He said: “We knew - and Steve knew - it was going to be a wash-out, but we had to go through with it because there was always a glimmer of hope and we had our fingers crossed. The evidence that was presented is none of the evidence that will clear Steve.

“We now go the Criminal Cases Review Commission. Anyone can go to the CCRC with your proof of innocence but you have to exhaust the appeal process first.

“I am now being sent the unedited autopsy and toxicology reports and these will be forwarded to someone in America.

“There are unanswered questions we need to ask of the defence. There is no doubt in my mind that Steve is innocent of these murders.”

Yesterday appeal court judges refused to let Steve Wright's representative, Patrick Cullinane, act for him in court because they said he was not a recognised member of the legal profession. Mr Cullinane argued Steve Wright could chose his own representation, but his assertion was dismissed by Lord Justice Hughes.

There were five tenets that formed the basis of Steve Wright's application for an appeal. They were that his trial should not have taken place in Ipswich, that Tom Stephens, of Trimley, who was arrested before Wright but was never charged, did not give evidence in court and that Wright's legal team accepted elements of the Crown's case too readily.

Steve Wright also claimed he had been given bad advice when it came to his own cross-examination and wanted an opportunity to re-argue parts of the evidence which convicted him.