Pumpkin case: Xue to appeal murder conviction

Nai Yin Xue (centre) with Qian Xun (L) and An An Liu. Photo / Supplied

The man jailed for life for murdering his wife is to appeal his conviction.

Nai Yin Xue was ordered to serve a minimum non-parole period of 12 years after being found guilty of killing An An Liu, 27, at their Auckland home in September 2007.

He strangled his wife to death before dumping her naked body in a car outside their Auckland home.

He then fled to Australia with the couple's three-year-old daughter Qian Xun, whom he abandoned at Melbourne Railway Station before flying on to the United States.

He was eventually arrested after a nationwide manhunt.

Xue, who loudly protested guilty verdict when it was delivered in the Auckland High Court in July.

Qian, who was widely known as Pumpkin, moved to China to live with her grandmother.

- NZPA