Killer's conviction thrown out

Christopher Shadrock - who was jailed for 12 years for the murder of Joanne Wang - has won an appeal against his conviction. File photo / Natalie Slade

The man found guilty of murdering Auckland woman Joanne Wang in a bag snatch gone wrong has had his conviction quashed and will go back to the High Court for a retrial.

Christopher Shadrock appealed to the Court of Appeal, which today released its decision quashing his conviction and ordering a High Court retrial.

Its reasons were suppressed.

In June last year, Shadrock was sentenced to life in jail for murder and ordered to serve at least 12 years before being eligible for release.

His trial heard he stole Mrs Wang's handbag containing a large sum of cash in the Manukau Westfield shopping centre car park on June 16 2008, causing her to chase after him.

As Shadrock tried to escape in the stolen 4WD he ran into her, knocking her onto the concrete. She died later in hospital from major head injuries.

Her 8-year-old son Edmund watched his mother being run down from the van she had been getting into when her bag was snatched. He was left alone in the car park while others rushed to where his mother lay bleeding on the ground.

Five others who were found guilty of the roles they played during and after the murder were sentenced along with Shadrock.

- NZPA, HERALD ONLINE