Two motorists who killed a young Lincolnshire couple in a 113mph crash were robbed of a fair trial, a court heard.

The pair could now walk free after a juror was overheard during the trial commenting that Mary Butres (47) and John Nichols (58) were "guilty as hell".

London's Court of Appeal heard Butres and Nichols are challenging their convictions resulting from the road deaths of young couple Mark Crompton and Jodie Brown.

Nichols, of Carlby, near Bourne, and Butres, of Stamford, say the juror's comments revealed real, or at least "apparent" bias on her part and the judge at their trial should have discharged her from the panel.

Butres was at the wheel of Nichols' Jaguar when tragedy struck on the A1 near Grantham in May 2007 as the duo returned from a Nottingham race meeting.

The prosecution claimed the Jaguar was travelling at 113mph when it "aquaplaned" into a broken down Ford Fiesta.

Mr Crompton (20) and Jodie Brown (19) died in the collision and 36-year-old Nick Brown suffered devastating injuries.

For more on the hearing, see Wednesday's Echo.