Samurai sword murderer's appeal date set

The convicted murderer who attacked two women with a Japanese samurai sword more than three years ago, is due back in court later this year to appeal his conviction and sentence.

Antonie Ronnie Dixon, 38, is serving a minimum 20-year jail term after he was convicted last year of the 2003 sword attacks on two women and the murder of Auckland man, James Te Aute in January, 2003.

The Court of Appeal is expected to be told that the jury which rejected his insanity defence and convicted him on eight charges including murder, wounding with intent, shooting at police, aggravated burglary and kidnapping, was misdirected on the insanity issue.

Dixon was found not guilty of four attempted murder charges.

His appeal is set down for one day in October but a decision is expected to be reserved.

Dixon was jailed for life with a minimum non-parole period of 20 years after his enraged, drug-fuelled sword attack on Simonne Butler and Renee Gunbie at Pipiroa near Thames in January, 2003, and for the murder of James Te Aute in Auckland

His defence was that he was insane during the crime spree when he attacked the women before driving 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.

Earlier his lawyer Barry Hart said the way Justice Judith Potter summed up for the jury, including the insanity issue, would form the basis of the appeal.

- NZPA