THE family of a man who died while serving a life sentence for the murder of his ex-lover has vowed to carry on fighting to clear his name, despite his appeal being rejected.

Harold "Ginger" Williams was jailed in November 1977 for killing Hereford woman Margaret Davies.

He refused to admit his guilt, which could have seen him walk free 13 years ago, and died in custody in October 2000 at the age of 67.

Yesterday, three judges at London's Court of Appeal ruled the former coach driver and father-of-three's conviction was "safe".

Robert Juckes QC had told the hearing that new evidence relating to the sightings of Mrs Davies showed Williams could not have committed the crime.

However Lord Justice Tuckey, Mr Justice Mitting and Sir Brian Smedley rejected the evidence.

Lord Justice Tuckey said: "The appellant was convicted after a full and fair trial on what was strong circumstantial evidence."

But the Williams family have vowed to fight on to clear his name, with his brother, Peter, maintaining Harold was not a killer.

"The family knows it and all of Hereford knows it. A miscarriage of justice has been done today and we feel very bitter.

"If there is any question of going further, we will definitely carry Harry's name until he is cleared."

Mrs Davies, 40, the wife of former Hereford rugby captain Robin Davies, was found bound and gagged at her home in January 1977. She had been stabbed and strangled.

The original trial jury at Worcester Crown Court heard Williams had lived with her "on and off" before their relationship ended, and had been seen outside the house days before the killing.

Williams was refused leave to appeal against the conviction in 1979, but in August 2000 the case was referred back to the Court of Appeal.