A CONVICTED murderer jailed for life for his part in the brutal killing of a young nightclubber has married his long-time girlfriend in prison.

Tony Aspinall, 25, is one of three men behind bars for the savage slaying of 22-year-old Kevin Sudall.

His brother, John Aspinall, and 19-year-old Paul Smyth were also jailed for life after a two-week trial at Preston Crown Court in June.

It was revealed today that Aspinall, of Windermere Close, Blackburn, has married his partner of 11 years, Nyree Trella, in the Preston Prison chapel.

Relatives of Aspinall refused to discuss the ceremony but said that he intended to appeal against his conviction for murder.

The civil service was conducted yesterday by senior superintendent registrar, Sandra Culshaw, under the supervision of the Vicar of Grimsargh, the Rev Andrew Haslam.

About a dozen friends and relatives, including the couple's six-year-old son, were present for the short ceremony. A prison officer acted as an unofficial wedding photographer and the service was followed by a buffet which was laid on by prison staff. The Rev Haslam, who was standing in for the prison chaplain, the Rev Andrew Keith, said: "The couple were given a certain degree of privacy after the ceremony.

"A prison officer took photographs and did a better job than most official wedding photographers.

"I was on hand to supervise and had to escort the bride and her relatives from the prison gates.

"The bridegroom was a little late because he had to keep an appointment with the prison dentist.

"But the staff made every effort to make the wedding as normal as possible.

"The couple have a long established relationship and have been together for about 11 years."

The wedding started shortly after 10am and Mr Aspinall was taken back to his wing at about 11.30am.

A spokesman at the Preston register office, in County Hall, confirmed that the wedding of Anthony Thomas Aspinall and Nyree Trella had taken place.

Mr Sudall, of View Road, Darwen, was attacked in July, 1995, as he left Club Euro, Cicely Lane, Blackburn.

Preston Crown Court heard that apparent bad feeling between two groups of youths had led to him being punched to the ground before his head was repeatedly kicked and stamped on as he lay motionless on the pavement.

He died during surgery to remove a blood clot from the surface of his brain two weeks before his 23rd birthday.

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