Laura Wilson's killer fails in appeal bid

Ashtiaq Asghar lured 17-year-old Laura  to the canalside in Holmes and stabbed her repeatedly in the head before leaving her for dead in the water.

The 19-year-old, of Holmes Lane, was jailed for life and ordered to serve at least 17-and-a-half years behind bars at Sheffield Crown Court last December, after admitting murder.

The teenager, who brutally murdered Laura in October 2010 after she told his family about their relationship, today tried to reignite an appeal against the length of his minimum jail term at London’s Criminal Appeal Court.

He had previously applied to appeal and withdrawing his challenge.

Asghar claimed he had earlier dropped the appeal out of concern for members of his family, who he said were being harrassed, and his lawyers argued he should now be allowed to pursue it.

But, despite saying there was “objective justification” for his concern, top judges refused his renewed appeal bid — saying he made a 'deliberate and informed' choice not to go ahead.