Axe-murderer Lundy preparing second appeal

Double murderer Mark Lundy is readying a second appeal against his conviction.

Lundy was jailed in May 2002 for the murders of his wife Christine and seven-year-old daughter Amber in August 2000 in their Palmerston North home.

Initially jailed for a minimum non-parole period of 17 years, Lundy's non-parole period was increased to 20 years in August 2002 after his first, unsuccessful appeal against his conviction.

One of Lundy's lawyers, Christopher Stevenson, confirmed his client was preparing another appeal, though would give no more details.

A second lawyer for Lundy, Keith Becker, said evidence about the glial cells - biological matter from deep within the spine or the brain - found on Lundy's shirt could be disproved.

His second appeal calls on evidence from an English Home Office-accredited professor, the Manawatu Standard reported.

Mr Becker likened Lundy's case to that of David Bain, recently acquitted over the murders of his parents and three siblings.

"I would say it would be a bit more to work with here than with Bain," he said.

"What we've got with Lundy, we are questioning whether the glial cell, which hung him, was actually a glial cell."

Mr Becker said he had met Lundy in Manawatu Prison several times and Lundy maintained his innocence and "never wavered the slightest bit".

"He is hopeful, very hopeful."

- NZPA