A man who murdered British backpacker Caroline Stuttle by pushing her off a bridge lost his appeal against conviction early today.

Ian Previte, 32, was convicted last October of the murder and robbery of 19-year-old Miss Stuttle in the eastern Australian city of Bundaberg, Queensland, on April 10 2002.

The three judges of the Court of Appeal in the state capital Brisbane unanimously ruled there were no grounds for quashing Previte's conviction.

Previte's lawyer, Jeff Hunter, told the court last month the verdict was unsatisfactory because key evidence was admitted that may have unfairly influenced the jury.

Prosecutor Leanne Claire said the conviction was sound because Previte had made a full confession to police.

Miss Stuttle, from York, was walking back to a caravan park when she was attacked by Previte. In the struggle for her handbag, she was thrown off a bridge.

Previte was sentenced to life imprisonment and cannot be paroled for 15 years.