The family of a murdered man say they are relieved one of his killers has been refused the chance to appeal his conviction.
Paul Fyfe, an Iraq war veteran who later became a Leicestershire police constable, died after a savage knife attack at a house in Rowlatts Hill, Leicester, in June 2011.
He was killed by Mohammed Adnam Hirsi (26), of Halstead Street, Leicester.
Ameen Hassan Jogee (25), of Dronfield Street, Spinney Hills, Leicester, was also convicted of murder on the basis he knew Hirsi might use the blade on Mr Fyfe and encouraged him.
Yesterday, Lord Justice Laws refused Jogee permission to appeal to the country's highest court – the Supreme Court.
Paul's widow Tracey, of Old Dalby, said the family welcomed the ruling.
"We are just so relieved," she said. "Absolutely."
Mrs Fyfe said she had only learned the appeal hearing was going ahead last week.
She said: "It was a huge blow, especially coming just before Christmas. We are extremely pleased as it's been hanging over our heads.
"It sets us back every time he appeals. The whole family is just extremely relieved."
The 2012 trial at Nottingham Crown Court heard Jogee and Hirsi took cocaine on the night of June 9, 2011 and went to the home where Mr Fyfe was staying, in Balderstone Close.
Uninvited, the pair soon left, but despite Jogee being told in a text message not to bring "that guy" again, they returned in the early hours.
Evidence was given that the householder watched as Hirsi stabbed Mr Fyfe with a knife taken from the kitchen, while Jogee remained outside, damaging a car.
In July last year, Jogee saw his appeal to the Court of Appeal thrown out by three senior judges. At his appeal, Jogee's barrister Frances Oldham QC argued that the way the trial judge directed the jury was wrong and resulted in an unsafe conviction.
She said the jury needed to be satisfied Jogee knew that Hirsi had the knife and then, with that knowledge, encouraged him in his actions.
Dismissing the appeal last year, Lord Justice Laws said there was nothing in Jogee's arguments.
In his ruling on Jogee's Supreme Court application today, he said: "We refuse leave to appeal."
