Kyne killer loses manslaughter appeal

A man jailed for killing two young jockeys in an arson attack in England more than a year ago has had his conviction upheld.

Jamie Kyne, 18, from Co Galway and Jan Wilson, 19, from Scotland died in the fire near Malton in North Yorkshire in September 2009.

Peter Brown of Brotherton, North Yorkshire, was cleared of the murder of the two apprentice jockeys but convicted of their manslaughter last year.

The 37-year-old took a case to the Court of Appeal in the UK, claiming the trial was prejudiced by evidence given by tenants at the flats, relating to his character.

Lawyers for Brown had argued that his trial was unfair because the evidence did not rule out the possibility of an accidental blaze.

But the judges in the case rejected the arguments, saying they found now no reason to doubt the safety of the convictions and dismissed the appeal.

Brown will continue to serve the sentence of seven and a half years which he was handed down last year.