The family of two children murdered in an arson attack on their home spoke of their relief after three men lost appeals against their convictions.

Anum Khan, nine, died in the fire at her home in Magdalen Road, Oxford, on August 26, 1997. Her brother Majid, 15, died two days later from severe burns.

At Birmingham Crown Court last November, Haroon Sharif, 21, of Morrell Avenue, Oxford, and four others were convicted of the double murder and given life sentences following a two-month trial.

Yesterday, at London's Criminal Appeal Court, three judges rejected the arguments of Sharif's lawyer that the convictions were "unsafe and unsatisfactory." Alan Swanton, 19, of Southern Way, Letchworth, Hertfordshire, and Mohammed Nawaz, 21, of Ridge Road, Letchworth, were also refused leave to appeal against their convictions by Lord Justice Judge, sitting with Mr Justice Garland and Mr Justice Penry-Davey. Anum and Majid's sister Nazmeen, 20, said her father Mohammed had attended the appeal hearings.

She said: "We are all very relieved that the appeals were unsuccessful. It is very upsetting after enduring a lengthy trial to have to worry about appeals as well."

Swanton sought a reduction in his conviction from murder to man- slaughter and his lawyers claimed the summing-up to the jury by the trial judge Mr Justice Jowitt had been inadequate on the subject of intent.

But Lord Justice Judge said he could see "no justifiable criticism" of the judge's words to the jury and refused Swanton leave to appeal against the convictions for the two murders. Mohammed Nawaz also sought leave to appeal but this was refused. Lord Justice Judge said the trial judge's direction to the jury had been "detailed, accurate and complete".

Turning to Haroon Sharif, Lord Justice Judge said he had played "an important, if not crucial, organisational role", in what was a "murderous enterprise".

He concluded: "The appeal by Haroon Sharif is accordingly dismissed. The applications (for leave to appeal) by Mohammed Nawaz and Swanton are refused."

Haq Nawaz, 31, of Ridge Road, Letchworth, and Thomas Liedl, 19, of Birdshill, Letchworth, were also sentenced to life imprisonment for the murders.

The appeal hearing has delayed a re-trial in the case of the sixth defendant Riaz Munshi, 26, of Sheffield, after the jury failed to reach a verdict in her case.

Story date: Friday 14 May

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