A MAN who murdered his former partner has lodged a fresh appeal against his conviction directly to the UK Supreme Court.

David Gilroy, 50, was sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of the murder of Suzanne Pilley, 38.

Earlier this year an application to the Scottish courts to take his appeal to the Supreme Court in London was denied.

Now his legal team have launched a bid to bypass the Scottish courts system and take their case straight to London.

The Supreme Court in London this week confirmed that a direct appeal had been brought to them by Gilroy's legal team.

The Legal Aid Board has already paid over £16,000 towards appeals against his conviction, and say future appeals will be considered..

Gilroy was found guilty of murdering in Ms Pilley after she disappeared in May 2010.

She was last seen when making her way to work on Thistle Street in the capital.

The conviction of Gilroy was hailed as a landmark case, as Ms Pilley's body has never been found.

Last week Police Scotland confirmed that they would continue to search for Ms Pilley's body.

A spokesman for the UK Supreme Court confirmed that an appeal had been received from Gilroy.

He said: "We can confirm that David Gilroy has launched an appeal.

"There will be a hearing at the Supreme Court in London in the near future."