Stop-go murder: Quinton Winders' appeal against conviction to be heard

Quinton Winders was sentenced for the murder of George Taiaroa in December 2016.

An appeal by the man jailed for the murder of road worker George Taiaroa near Rotorua five years ago will be heard in the Court of Appeal next week.

Quinton Winders, 46, was sentenced in December 2016 to life imprisonment with a minimum non-parole period of 17 years after a Rotorua High Court jury had previously found him guilty of Taiaroa's murder.

Taiaroa in 2012. Photo / File

An appeal against both his conviction and sentence was lodged on December 22, 2016, and an appeal date was set for November 21 last year. However, the appeal was adjourned until Tuesday, March 13.

Taiaroa, 65, was shot dead as he operated a stop-go sign at roadworks on Tram Rd, Atiamuri, in 2013.

Winders pleaded not guilty after being arrested and charged with murder in November 2015.

Winders' trial lasted five weeks with the jury hearing from more than 150 witnesses, visiting key locations in and around Tram Rd and examining Winders' blue Jeep Cherokee.

Taiaroa was shot and killed near Kinleith in 2013. Photo / File

The Court of Appeal is in Wellington.