Hitman jailed for Sharon Birchwood murder loses appeal
A hitman jailed for life for murdering a housewife in her Surrey home on behalf of her ex-husband has lost a Court of Appeal bid to clear his name.
Sharon Birchwood, 52, of Ashtead, was found strangled and trussed up with parcel tape in Ashtead in 2007.
Expatriate Paul Cryne, 63, who flew to the UK from Thailand to carry out the killing for a £30,000 fee, was convicted in August 2010.
His appeal was dismissed by three judges who ruled the verdict was safe.
He was told when he was sentenced that he would serve a minimum of 28 years and six months in jail before he could be considered for parole.
Cryne, who had denied murder, was extradited from Thailand to face trial at the Old Bailey.