Convicted murderer Jeremy Bamber is taking his case to the European Court of Human Rights.

Bamber lost an appeal last autumn against his conviction for killing five members of his family at White House Farm, Tolleshunt D'Arcy, in 1985.

His case was dismissed by law lords at London's Court of Appeal.

His solicitor, Ewen Smith, said: "An application has been sent off to the European Court of Human Rights on the basis that my client's human rights have been breached."

He said the basis of the application relates to the original murder trial at Chelmsford and the recent appeal, and cited article six of the Human Rights Act, which concerns the right to a fair trial.

Mr Smith added fresh material had come to light following a recent television programme about the case.

Bamber also has a website which runs an appeal for witnesses to come forward. The site had thousands of hits after the programme.

Bamber, who lived in Goldhanger, was convicted by a majority verdict of the murders of five members of his family and was sentenced to life in prison.

He is currently serving his sentence at Full Sutton prison in York.

The White House Farm murders shocked the nation. Bamber's adopted parents, well-respected magistrate and farmer Nevill Bamber, and his wife June, a churchwarden, both 61, their adopted daughter Sheila Cafell and Sheila's twins Nicholas and Daniel, were found gunned to death in the remote farmhouse.

Initially police believed that Sheila, who had a hisitory of mental problems, had slaughtered her family before turning the gun on herself.

But after Bamber's girlfriend Julie Mugford went to police the spotlight turned on him and the 25-year-old was charged with the murders.

He has always claimed he is innocent.

Published Monday, June 9, 2003

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