THE family of jailed charity worker Ian Stillman today vowed to continue its fight for his release, despite his case being dismissed by India's top court.

A Supreme Court judge ruled that he would not hear evidence that contradicted a High Court judge at an earlier appeal hearing.

Ian, 51, whose parents live in Tadcaster Road, York, is profoundly deaf and had a leg amputated after a road accident.

He is serving a ten-year sentence in an Indian prison after being convicted of cannabis possession, a charge he has always denied.

His sister, Elspeth Dugdale, said today lawyers were meeting in an effort to draw up a plan to continue pressure for his release.

"The lawyers say that they have never seen anything like this," she said.

"There may be a possibility of medical parole. Also, there may be a constitutional point in that Ian could not take part in the original trial so, therefore, the Supreme Court may not have the right to refuse to hear it.

"We will, needless to say, continue to fight this."

Ian's High Court appeal was lost because the judge decided that he was not deaf. The Supreme Court judge refused to hear medical evidence that, lawyers claimed, would prove that wrong.

"He said that the High Court judge said that Ian was merely hard of hearing and, if that's what the High Court judge believes, that's it," said Elspeth.

"He also said it was commonly known that disabled people are used for drug trafficking purposes and it was quite conceivable that Ian was involved in something like this.

"We are spitting about it. We thought there was only a five per cent chance he could decide this. It is extremely frustrating and obviously really bad news, but there is still hope."

The Supreme Court hearing was witnessed by Ian's wife, Sue, their 23-year-old son, Lennie, and British High Commission Consul, Angela Slater.

"We were very pleased that (Mrs Slater) was able to be present to observe all this," said Elspeth.

The Evening Press is campaigning for Ian's release. See our Free Ian Stillman via the link on the left under Campaigns.

Updated: 11:00 Tuesday, May 07, 2002