Limbs in the Loch murderer William Beggs has lost a bid to access legal aid to fund an appeal against his conviction.
Beggs, who has so far cost the taxpayer more than £1 million in legal challenges, wanted taxpayers' money to force police to reveal information about their investigation into him.
The killer had that demand refused by the Scottish Legal Aid Board (SLAB) - and the decision was backed by Court of Session judges in Edinburgh.
READ MORE - Schoolboy who wowed Edinburgh Airport passengers with piano cover taught himself
The 59-year-old - who is serving a life sentence at HMP Edinburgh - has now had a request to challenge the decision at the UK's highest court thrown out.
Beggs was jailed for life in 2001 after murdering Barry Wallace, 18, and dismembering his body at a house in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, in 1999.
He disposed of body parts of the teenager in Loch Lomond and in the sea.
Beggs has always maintained his innocence but the Court of Criminal Appeal has previously ruled that there had been no miscarriage of justice.
He believes there is evidence that may assist his claim and has made repeated legal challenges to recover CCTV footage from cameras located in Kilmarnock town centre on the night of his victim's disappearance and information about a potential witness.
However three of the country's most senior judges at the Supreme Court in London have now refused Beggs' permission to appeal application over the legal aid money.
Supreme Court justices Lord Hodge, Lord Sales and Lady Rose ruled earlier this month that it did not "raise an arguable point of law".
Supermarket worker Mr Wallace vanished on 5 December 1999, after a Christmas night out with colleagues in his home town of Kilmarnock. He was last seen in the town centre.
A jury found Beggs took the teenager to his flat and subjected him to a serious sexual assault. He then murdered him and cut up his body.
Shortly after the crime, Beggs fled to the Netherlands. After lengthy extradition proceedings, in January 2001 he was ordered to be returned to Scotland to face trial.
He has become a serial litigant while behind bars and has lodged a string of appeals and complaints over his treatment in prison.
READ NEXT:
1840s Edinburgh document reveals cost of care at city's Royal Asylum
Michelle Mone flies off to plush £7m Algarve villa bought after PPE police raid
We tried an Edinburgh restaurant's new menu created just for dogs
Edinburgh Porsche driver slapped with fine after being caught using mobile phone
Aldi customers urged to claim 20 per cent off code before March deadline
