Allan Chappelow killer refused appeal from jail

THE man found guilty of killing 86-year-old Hampstead author Allan Chappelow has lost his appeal against his conviction.

Financial adviser, Wang Yam, 49, was jailed for life in January last year for the murder of Mr Chappelow who was discovered to have died of massive head injuries in his Downshire Hill home.

Yam has always claimed he was wrongly convicted and earlier this year took his case to the Court of Appeal in a bid to overturn the jury’s verdicts.

But today, after taking months to consider the decision, Lord Justice Hughes returned to the central London court to reject Yam’s appeal and uphold the conviction.

“The evidence was long, detailed and thorough,” he said. “Its assessment was for the jury and not for us. We are not left with any doubt about the safety of its conclusion.”

Lord Justice Hughes, who heard the appeal with Mr Justice Saunders and Mrs Justice Thirlwall, also rejected a challenge to Wang’s 20-year minimum term, but quashed his conviction for handling stolen cheques, mail and a mobile phone.

Yam will only be freed after serving his minimum term if he can convince the Parole Board he is no longer a public danger.

When, and if, he is released, he will be subject to licence conditions for life.