by Jenni Horn

The brother of a woman murdered by her husband said he would be furious if her killer’s sentence was cut.

Peter Morris’ sister Claire died in a staged car crash in Aberdeenshire in 1994.

Her husband Malcolm Webster was convicted of her murder last July and put behind bars for a minimum of 30 years.

Now Webster has been given leave to appeal against his sentence.

Mr Morris, of Kingswood Road, Gillingham, said: "I can’t believe any reason why they would want to reduce his sentence.

"How can it be reduced when he hasn’t even admitted what he’s done.

"Would the public want a criminal at large any earlier than 30 years? It has already taken 17 years to prove his guilt.

"It is extremely upsetting. I would be furious if his sentence was reduced."

Mr Morris, 48, is learning to walk again after having his leg amputated in October last year. He had to undergo life-saving surgery after getting an infection in his foot during a walk in memory of sister, who was originally from Upchurch.

The 150-mile trek was part of his campaign for better support for victims of crime and their families.

Mr Morris has also been embroiled in a legal fight with Webster to get his sister’s headstone removed from her grave, because it was inscribed with her married name and contained the words ‘dear wife’.

The father-of-four said: "That man [Webster] has never really allowed us to get closure.

"I attribute losing my leg to him. I would never have been campaigning for better support for victims of crime if it wasn’t for what he had done. I don’t regret the campaign but on the other hand I would also rather have both my legs.

He added: "I feel like I am in an eternal battle with him. It is not a fight I asked for, but I’m not going to give in."