A WOMAN jailed for murdering a young man for his money has failed to clear her name, despite fresh evidence that she was suffering from severe post natal depression at the time.

Petra Stokes, 34, was jailed for life in December 2010 alongside her partner, Shaun Stokes, after the pair were convicted of murdering Tom Holt, 36.

Mr Holt, from May Hill, near Ross-on-Wye, had recently inherited from his deceased mother, and the couple were charged after police discovered they were using his bank cards to access cash.

Shaun Stokes, 39, was ordered to serve at least 24 years before applying for parole, whilst Petra Stokes got a minimum 19-year sentence.

Mr Holt’s body was found in the River Frome in October 2009, having been weighted down with rocks.

Prosecutors claimed that, after befriending their victim, the couple attacked him in their car.

Petra Stokes, of Hasnett Road, Ledbury, challenged her conviction at London's Appeal Court today, pointing to fresh psychiatric evidence.

Her lawyers said experts had revealed her “compliant” character, which would have made her vulnerable to pressure from her partner.

There was compelling evidence that she was also highly vulnerable due to the effects of post natal depression, they argued.

But Sir Brian Leveson said the new evidence “does not afford a ground for allowing this appeal”.

A major flaw in her challenge was that it “ran contrary” to her defence at trial, said the judge.

Stokes insisted before the jury that she had refused to “go along with” her partner's attack, and even “told him to stop and asked why he was doing it”.

That contradicted her new case that “she went along because she was compliant”.

Sir Brian, who was sitting with two other judges, concluded: “The appeal is dismissed.”