The swordsman who attacked two women with a samurai sword before shooting dead an Auckland man more than three years ago will take his case to the Court of Appeal in June.
Antonie Dixon is serving a life sentence with a 20-year, non-parole term for the murder of James Te Aute in Auckland and an enraged sword attack on Simonne Butler and Renee Gunbie at Pipiroa near Thames in January, 2003.
He claimed in court he was insane during a drug-fuelled crime spree when he attacked the women and then drove to Auckland where he shot dead Mr Te Aute with 10 bullets in his back.
He took a hostage before giving himself up to police after a standoff lasting several hours.
The jury rejected the insanity defence and convicted him on eight charges including murder.
His lawyer Barry Hart said that the way Justice Judith Potter summed up for the jury would form the basis of the June 15 appeal.
"We say that the judge misdirected in respect of that," Mr Hart said.
The insanity issue would also form part of the appeal, he said.
- NZPA
Samurai sword attacker to appeal
Antonie Dixon
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