Convicted murderer Vincent Stanford, 25, was gifted a last-minute extension to appeal his punishment in April, stretching his window of opportunity to July 30. 

Stanford’s lawyers have not yet corresponded with the Court of Criminal Appeal. 

However, he may still file a Notice of Appeal out of time – providing he justifies why his initial plea was not filed before the due date. 

Family and friends of the slain Leeton High School teacher have vowed to fight a Stanford appeal when – or if – it eventuates. 

Miss Scott’s former colleague Sarah Birmingham spoke of her “ongoing feeling of unease” knowing that a brutal killer could be given mercy.

“He missed the cut off – he’s had enough chances and that should be it,” she said.

“In what bizarre world do we give him yet another chance after what he did. It makes me sick and uneasy to think he’s getting leniency.

“There should be no chance of his release.”

Adam Mitchell, one of Miss Scott’s former students, said Stanford’s opportunity to appeal felt like having “salt rubbed into a wound”. 

“She didn’t get a second chance, why on earth should he?” he asked.

“Nobody can excuse what he has done and he should never be given a chance to do this to somebody else.”

Faced with spending the rest of his life behind bars, Stanford lodged an intention to appeal against the severity of his sentence on October 27 last year.

Stanford raped and murdered Miss Scott at Leeton High School on April 5, 2015, six days before her wedding.