A man who together with his father murdered his dad's estranged wife's new partner has had an application to appeal his conviction thrown out, it has emerged.

Riley Peckham and his father Wayne Peckham were both found guilty of the murder of Matthew Rodwell, 39, after they found him at the Downham Market home of Wayne Peckham's wife and Riley Peckham's mother Kerry.

Eastern Daily Press: Riley Peckham (left) and Wayne Peckham (right)Riley Peckham (left) and Wayne Peckham (right) (Image: Facebook)Father-of-two Mr Rodwell, from Fincham, west Norfolk, had made a terrified 999 call while hiding in a wardrobe.

Eastern Daily Press: Matthew RodwellMatthew Rodwell (Image: Norfolk Constabulary)Wayne Peckham began "kicking, stamping and punching" Mr Rodwell who suffered more than 40 significant injuries as a result of the attack in January 2021.

He was pronounced dead at the house at Bulrush Avenue.

Eastern Daily Press: Police at the property at Bulrush Avenue, Downham MarketPolice at the property at Bulrush Avenue, Downham Market (Image: Newsquest)A post-mortem examination revealed he died as a result of strangulation.

In April last year Wayne Peckham, then 48, and Riley Peckham, then 23, were sentenced to minimum terms of 24 years and 18 years respectively by Judge Anthony Bate at Norwich Crown Court.

Eastern Daily Press: Wayne and Riley PeckhamWayne and Riley Peckham (Image: Norfolk Constabulary)Judge Bate said it had been a "brutal and sustained attack" on Mr Rodwell who had "begged for mercy but was shown none".

Riley Peckham, now 24, launched a bid to get his conviction overturned at The Court of Appeal in London.

Eastern Daily Press: Court of Appeal in LondonCourt of Appeal in London (Image: PA)But a spokesman said an application for leave to appeal against conviction was "refused" by the full court earlier this month.

Judgement was given by Lord Justice Green presiding Mrs Justice May and Mr Justice Linden on March 8.

Sentencing Riley Peckham in April last year, Judge Bate said while searching the house for Mr Rodwell he had demeaningly goaded him by saying “here doggy” and had twice told him he was going to die.

In personal statements read out in court, Mr Rodwell’s sister Amy said had been “tormented and bullied” just because he “fell in love with a woman who just happened to be your ex-wife and mother”.

In her statement, Kerry Peckham said Wayne Peckham was “selfish, violent and controlling” and accused him of manipulating Riley Peckham who she said had expressed to her his “genuine remorse and sadness”. 

Both men were also sentenced over an earlier assault against another man which happened in December 2021 in Downham Market.