LONDON - A man who murdered his mother, father, sister and twin nephews was must spend the rest of his life in jail, one of the country's top judges ruled on Friday.

Justice Michael Tugendhat said he backed the Home Secretary and that Jeremy Bamber, who was jailed in 1986 for the notorious killings, should never be released.

"These murders were exceptionally serious. In my judgment you ought to spend the whole of the rest of your life in prison," the judge said in a written statement.

In August 1985, Bamber's mother June, and six-year-old nephews Nicholas and Daniel were found shot dead in their beds.

The body of his father, Neville, was found slumped downstairs, and his sister Sheila Caffell -- a model known as "Bambi" -- was found dead by her parents' bed.

Bamber was convicted in October 1986 at Chelmsford Crown Court of murdering his five relatives at the family farmhouse White House Farm in Tolleshunt D'Arcy, Essex, but has always claimed he was innocent.

His fingerprints were found on a gun that was used in the murder and his former girlfriend, Julie Mugford, told police how he plotted to murder his parents in order to inherit 500,000 pounds.

The verdict was the latest round in a long legal battle fought by Bamber, initially against his conviction and now against the time he must remain locked away.

The courts have already thrown out appeals by Bamber ruling that his conviction was safe.