An Oxfordshire man has walked free for the second time today over the murder of a drug addict after the Court of Appeal threw out the case against him.

Ricky San Juliano, 29, was arrested in July and charged for the second time with murdering Steven Burton - 11 years after he was originally acquitted by a jury over the killing.

Police had hoped to re-prosecute Mr San Juliano under the new laws that scrapped the principle of double jeopardy, protecting people from facing trial more than once for the same crime.

Mr Burton, 20, was discovered dying from an 11cm stab wound in the stomach in a house in Cowley Road, Oxford in 1996.

Mr San Juliano - then known as Ricky Miell - denied stabbing him and said he was in another room of the house when he heard the victim and another man, James Rollinson, arguing.

But in 1999 Mr San Juliano - who now lives in Nuffield in South Oxfordshire - was jailed for perjury after admitting lying to that original murder trial jury.

A judge at Oxford Crown Court was told the then 21-year-old had confessed to prison officials and then police after finding God.

It was that admission police were basing their new case on but today three senior judges in the Court of Appeal ruled against them.

It is a bitter blow for Mr Burton's mother Carol and Thames Valley Police, because this was the first major case brought by its dedicated team of senior detectives set up this year to tackle the county's unsolved murders.

Mrs Burton said: "I am bitterly disappointed at the outcome at the Court of Appeal.

"I am upset that the judges have made this decision without really taking into consideration his conviction for perjury.

"They seem to have basically dismissed his confessions.

"I am very pleased that Thames Valley Police and the Crown Prosecution Service decided to try to take this case forward and although I am bitterly disappointed with the outcome, I will not accept this has been a waste of time.

"I would like to thank the police and the prosecution team for their hard work and for treating me with understanding and compassion."

Det Supt Barry Halliday, head of the 'cold case' review team, added: "Following the judgement announced this morning, I have spoken with Steven's mother and, as one can imagine, she is bitterly disappointed with the ruling.

"Thames Valley Police Major Crime Review Team will now examine the judgement with care and discuss the contents with the Crown Prosecution Service.

"As always, Thames Valley Police will continue to examine and consider all available options both in this case and other unresolved homicide investigations.

"Our thoughts at this moment in time are with Steven's family who will continue to seek justice.

"Thames Valley Police will continue to review this case and continue to work closely with the Crown Prosecution Service and Steven's family.

"At this moment in time Thames Valley Police are not looking for anyone else connected to this investigation and a meeting with the Crown Prosecution Service will be arranged as soon as practicable."