THE family of a Suffolk man jailed for life for murdering his lover said they were “absolutely devastated” last night after judges told him he could not appeal against the conviction.

THE family of a Suffolk man jailed for life for murdering his lover said they were “absolutely devastated” last night after judges told him he could not appeal against the conviction.

But the news was welcomed by the family of victim Dawn Walker, who said they hoped it would put an end to the affair.

Kevin Nunn was found guilty last year of murdering Miss Walker, 37, and setting her body alight next to the River Lark in Fornham, near Bury St Edmunds, in February 2005.

It was claimed in court he killed her in a fit of jealousy after she told him their relationship was over.

Following one failed attempt to secure an appeal hearing earlier in the year, Nunn's family - who have campaigned to prove the 47-year-old's innocence - were hoping for a positive outcome the second time around.

But judges hearing the case at London's Court of Appeal yesterday rejected Nunn's application, concluding there was “ample evidence” against him.

And last night, their decision was welcomed by Miss Walker's sister, Sheena Vanoevelen.

She said: “If five judges are happy with the facts that have been put before them and still think he is a guilty man, then we are happy with today's outcome.

“The Nunn family are welcome to continue their crusade but the facts speak for themselves. At the end of the day, he might have convinced his family, but he will never convince us.”

But Nunn's mother, Kate, said: “We are absolutely devastated and we just do not know what the next step is.

“We did not expect miracles but we thought we would at least get the chance for a fair trial. It has been such a long, hard road for everyone, and we do want justice for Dawn Walker's killer.”

Anyone convicted of a crime has the option to try and win leave to appeal, firstly before a single judge at the Court of Appeal, and secondly before three appeal judges.

Nunn, formally of Woolpit, appealed against his conviction on several grounds, including complaints about the judge's summing up of the case to the jury. He claimed there was "insufficient evidence" for his conviction to be safe.

However, Lord Justice Toulson, accompanied on the bench by Mr Justice Gibbs and Judge Wide QC, rejected Nunn's claims and said there was “no arguable substance” to them.

“There was ample evidence to support the conviction,” he said.

Nunn's sister, Brigitte Butcher, who attended court yesterday, said the family would now look at other options - one of which would be to take the case to the Criminal Justice Review Board.

“We want justice for Dawn Walker and for my poor brother, and knowing that an injustice has been done means we cannot let this go.”