A GUNMAN who tricked his way into a family home dressed as a character from a horror movie and blasted a young father to death has lost his court appeal to clear his name.

Andrew Davies was wearing a mask similar to the one worn by the killer in the horror film Scream when he knocked at the door of Annette Wemyss, in Killingworth, North Tyneside.

Davies, of Balliol Avenue, Forest Hall, Newcastle, was jailed for life at Newcastle Crown Court on June 14, 2001 after being convicted of the murder of 26-year-old Andrew Lansdown.

The court heard how Mrs Wemyss let him into the house thinking he was a practical joker.

She told the court that she laughed when she opened her front door to be greeted by the frightening mask made famous by the popular horror film series.

But she was left shocked when Davies and an accomplice pulled out shotguns and opened fire.

Mr Lansdown died from his injuries. Mrs Wemyss's son, Steven, was shot in the leg.

Davies was also found guilty of causing him grievous bodily harm and sentenced to another 15 years, to run concurrently.

Davies' legal team, headed by Redcar MP and QC Vera Baird, had attacked the convictions as unsafe.

They argued at the High Court in London that, among other things, Davies was found guilty on the basis of unreliable aural and visual identification evidence.

But Lord Justice Mance, sitting at the Appeal Court with Mr Justice Newman and Mr Justice Fulford, dismissed his appeal yesterday.

The judge said: "Looking at the position overall, we find ourselves in no doubt about the fairness of the trial process or the safety of the conviction.

"We also consider that Davies was convicted on evidence which, viewed overall as it must be, pointed strongly towards his guilt".

Davies, aged 33 at the time of his conviction, denied the charges, but was convicted on the basis that he was part of a "joint enterprise".

A second man was acquitted of both charges.