BODY-in-the-boot killers Robert McCarry and Paul Waters are to have their appeals against conviction heard next month, it has emerged.

Colin Adwent

BODY-in-the-boot killers Robert McCarry and Paul Waters are to have their appeals against conviction heard next month, it has emerged.

The Ipswich pair are currently serving minimum 24-year and 18-year jail terms respectively after being found guilty of murdering hospice worker Nicola West.

Their appeals are due to be heard by three judges at the Royal Courts of Justice on July 15.

McCarry, of Vernon Street, is appealing against convictions for murder, rape, perverting the course of justice and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

Waters, of Sandpiper Road, is seeking to overturn convictions for murder, attempted rape and perverting the course of justice.

A spokesman for the Court of Appeal in London said their cases will be heard by Mr Justice Hallett, Mr Justice Griffith-Williams and Mr Justice Foskett.

Although both men were given mandatory life sentences by Ipswich Crown Court, McCarry, 38, was originally sentenced to at least 19 years in jail, while Waters, 30, was given a minimum prison term of 13 years.

However, these were increased after the Attorney General's office appealed to the High Court last October.

Miss West, 34, of Leatherbottle Hill, Little Blakenham, was killed on February 8, 2007, near the dry ski slope at Wherstead.

After the St Elizabeth Hospice worker's death, the men put her body in the boot of Waters' car and drove around the country for two days, before taking the vehicle to Ipswich police station and handing themselves in.

Giving evidence during their trial, McCarry claimed Miss West had encouraged him to strangle her during sex to heighten her pleasure.

He said he had been reluctant to contact the police or take her to hospital after she died, because he didn't think anyone would believe Miss West's death had been an accident.

However, the jury's verdicts were unanimous with the exception of McCarry's rape conviction, which was by a majority verdict of 11-1, and Waters' murder conviction, which was reached by a majority of 10-2