Charlotte Pinkney murderer loses appeal

A man who was jailed for life for the murder of Devon teenager Charlotte Pinkney has lost his appeal against his conviction.

Nicholas Rose, 24, from Ilfracombe, north Devon, was convicted of the murder at Exeter Crown Court last February.

It was alleged that Charlotte was murdered by Rose after he targeted her for sex and drove her away from a party in Ilfracombe in the early hours of February 28, 2004. Her body has never been found.

Rose was told that he would serve a minimum 20-year sentence before being eligible for parole.

However, Rose had told the Court of Appeal that there was fresh evidence in the case and two witnesses - postman Nick Perrin and 18-year-old Poppy Humphries - told the court that they had seen Charlotte in the Victoria Hotel in Ilfracombe on the afternoon of February 28, more than 12 hours after she was alleged to have been killed.

However, three Appeal Court judges dismissed the appeal, stating that the scientific evidence against Rose, although circumstantial, was "formidable".

The prosecution's case against Rose included DNA evidence that Charlotte's blood was found inside his car and on one of his trainers.

A button of the type that was used on the waistband of the trousers Charlotte was wearing was also found in the vacuum cleaner that Rose used to clean his car, while a piece of black elastic consistent with a thong Charlotte was wearing, was found under the passenger seat.

(KMcA/SP)