A convicted murderer hopes to be cleared of killing a heroin addict and burning his body on a golf course.

Sean Iran is taking his case to the Court of Appeal in June – 14 months after a jury found him guilty of bludgeoning Stefan Welch to death.

Aged 21 at the time, Iran was told he would serve a minimum of 19 years in prison for the murder.

The trial at Lewes Crown Court was told that Mr Welch, 36, had saved Sean Iran from a beating in Lewes Prison and that they had become close friends.

In August 2010 Mr Welch’s burnt body was found by golfers at Dyke Golf Club, near Devil’s Dyke in Brighton. A pathologist said he had suffered “catastrophic” head injuries.

The court was told he had been murdered at the Irans’ family home in St Richard’s Road, Portslade.

Iran’s brother, Navid, then 23, was jailed for six years and |their father Babak, then 45, for seven years.

The pair, who ran Georgie’s Bistro in George Street, Hove, were found guilty of conspiring to pervert the course of justice by helping dump and burn the body.

Sean Iran claimed at the trial that Mr Welch had fallen foul of Liverpudlian drug dealers who had been responsible for his death.

Referred But speaking after the sentencing, Stefan’s brother, Tim, said: “Sean Iran betrayed Stefan’s trust in the worst possible way. “ Sean Iran asked a judge for leave to appeal at a hearing in February this year.

The judge did not make a decision and referred it to a panel of three Court of Appeal judges to rule whether a full appeal could go ahead.

They are due to hold a hearing on Thursday June 14.

The Court of Appeal Criminal Division yesterday confirmed Iran is appealing against his murder conviction.

Neither his brother or father are understood to be involved in the appeal.