THE families of two men convicted of a grisly double murder have vowed to fight on to prove their innocence after a major blow to their campaign.

After a three-year review of submissions from solicitors for Michael Attwooll and John Roden, the pair will not have their cases sent to the Court of Appeal for reconsideration. A provisional decision was made earlier this year but yet again the pair have been turned down by the Criminal Cases Review Commission.

Michael Attwooll and John Roden, were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment at Newport crown court in 1995 for the murders of Attwooll's business partner Gerald Stevens and his lover Christine Rees in May 1994.

It was alleged that Attwooll planned the killings because he thought the affair was having a bad effect on business.

Ms Rees and Mr Stevens were found shot and hacked at the Western Valley Taxi office in Risca.

As the families of Roden and Attwooll spoke of their despair at the decision of the Criminal Cases Review Commission's (CCRC) not to refer the case on, the family of Christine Rees expressed their relief.

Speaking from her home in Risca, John Roden's mother, Mary, said: "Family and friends are shocked that John's case has been turned down on the evidence of one person who is a known criminal.

"We will fight on and seek more information." But Linda Parry, sister of the murdered Christine Rees, said she was happy with the commission's decision.

She told the Argus: "I hope that from this day forward we can put the past behind us because every time we try to get on with our lives we have to re-live that terrible night over again.

"We know it must be difficult for the families of the two men but they can still see them and all we have is the wonderful memories that Chrissy has left us."

Dennis Eady, campaigns officer for South Wales Liberty, said the verdict of the CCRC had been a "crushing blow" .

He said: "The important message is the campaign will continue even though it will be extremely difficult to quash their convictions now.

"We think this case has all the hallmarks of a miscarriage of justice."

He said anyone who could help the appeal should ring Liberty on 01443 814293.