THE family of a Bolton man serving life for murder have vowed to continue their fight to clear his name.

As reported in the BEN this week Steven Penn was refused leave to appeal against his conviction for murdering Angela Heyes.

But today his brother-in-law Brendan Pitt told the BEN their fight will go on.

Mr Pitt, of Wigan Road, Deane, said: "Steven has always maintained his innocence and he is getting really down about it all.

"All we ever see in the papers is Steven being painted in a really bad light and that hurts so much."

Penn, aged 38, of Park Road, Bolton, was found guilty of Angela's murder at Manchester Crown Court last October.

Her body was found dumped near a moorland road in Dimple, Egerton, in January 1996.

The basis of Penn's appeal at the Appeal Court in London was that the case against him was purely circumstantial.

Now Mr Pitt, his wife Janet, Penn's brother Tony and his wife Val are set to take legal advice on further action. They believe various areas of the case need detailed examination.

Mr Pitt added: "It's very difficult to visit him at Wakefield Prison. He is saving up his visiting rights and hopefully they'll move him to Strangeways.

"We've got to fight on because its just not fair."

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