(BBC) A last-ditch attempt to seek a retrial by a man who murdered a doctor and her 14-year-old daughter has been rejected.
Shahbaz Khan had pleaded guilty to the murder of Dr Saman Mir Sacharvi, 49, and Vian Mangrio, 14, in Burnley during his trial at Preston Crown Court.
The 51-year-old had applied to vacate those pleas as he claimed his brain had been “controlled” by evil spirits when he admitted the killings in June.
Mr Justice Goss refused the request as it was not in the interests of justice.
During his trial, the court heard the former computer network engineer had strangled Dr Sacharvi and then attacked her daughter when she returned from school on 30 September 2020 before setting fires at the property on Colne Road, Reedlay.
