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The woman convicted of murdering Marton pensioner Mona Morriss is to appeal her conviction and sentence.
Tracy Jean Goodman, 45, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum non-parole period of 19 years last December, after a Wanganui jury found her guilty of murdering Mrs Morriss on January 3, 2005, and burgling her flat.
Goodman's sentence was the longest ever handed down to a woman in New Zealand.
The Court of Appeal confirmed an appeal would be heard on July 1, but it was not yet known whether it would be in Auckland or Wellington.
Defence Counsel Steve Winter told the Wanganui Chronicle the appeal of Goodman's conviction would focus on whether she should have been found guilty based on the evidence presented in the Crown case.
"We're just simply saying there was too much doubt across the Crown case and the jury should have taken that up."
The defence would also appeal Goodman's sentence on grounds that when seen against other murder sentences it was "too high".
Mr Winter said the appeal - like the rest of Goodman's defence - would be paid for though legal aid, but he would not say how much it was likely to cost.
- NZPA
