Barri White, aged 28, of Epsom Grove, Bletchley was jailed for life in 2002 after a jury convicted him of strangling his girlfriend. Her disfigured body was found at Woburn golf course.

Keith Hyatt, aged 55, of Bedford, was cleared of murder at their trial but found guilty of perverting the course of justice by helping to dispose of Rachel's body. He was jailed for five years.

Today (Thurs) at London's Appeal Court Lord Justice Keene, sitting with Mr Justice Jack and Mr Justice Irwin declared both convictions "unsafe". A retrial was ordered for Mr White and he was given conditional bail. As Mr Hyatt has served his sentence he will not be retried.

There were emotional scenes in court, including whoops of joy and tears, with members of all three families present.

At the original trial it was alleged that Mr White and Rachel had gone to a Milton Keynes nightclub following a fancy dress birthday party. After an argument he was said to have strangled her then called Mr Hyatt to help dispose of the body in his van.

Mr White insisted he left Rachel in Milton Keynes. She called him from a phone box asking for a lift but when he and Mr Hyatt drove to pick her up she had disappeared.

Lord Justice Keene ordered that because of the retrial detailed reasons for their decision can not be reported.