KILLERS Nigel Goolding and Joshua Spruce, found guilty of murdering Jock Straiton after a five-week trial, are weighing up appeals against their convictions and life sentences.

The Northwich Cricket Club duo were locked up for a minimum of 15 years by Judge Roderick Evans at Chester Crown Court on Friday, April 3 - 24 hours after being convicted of murdering he Winnington grandad.

Lawyers representing the pair, who are both aged 20, have 28 days to lodge a formal appeal.

Stephen Rodgers, whose firm represents Goolding, said: “We are considering our position with regards to an appeal. There is a deadline laid down by law and we have four weeks to lodge an appeal, but we can ask for an extension.”

Chris Johnson, legal partner at Moss Haselhurst, the firm which represented Spruce, told The Chronicle: “Josh is considering his options in conjunction with the legal team.”

The third man accused of Mr Straiton’s murder, 20-year-old Paul Blower, from Wincham, was cleared of murder after spending 247 days on remand.

Sale-based brief John Black said his client had never denied he was involved in an argument with Mr Straiton and a neighbour in the early hours of July 26.

But, he claimed, Mr Blower did not lay a finger on the victim, and the not guilty verdict was the right one.

“We were confident from the outset Paul was innocent and the evidence which came out in court vindicated his not guilty plea,” said Mr Black.

“From the word go he always accepted his presence there and initial involvement, but he always maintained no involvement in the violence and the evidence supported that.

“It’s clear that the jury’s decision was correct. We hope the family of the deceased will now get some closure.”