Convicted murderer Mark Lundy will learn today whether his Privy Council bid for freedom has been successful.
Lundy has so far served more than half of a 20-year jail sentence after being found guilty of killing his wife Christine and seven-year-old daughter Amber, in a brutal attack in Palmerston North in 2000.
His lawyers have argued the Crown's case was based on "bad science", and disputed the police timeline of events on the night of the murders.
Lundy had been in Wellington on a business trip that night, meaning if he had killed his wife and daughter he would have needed to make a round trip to Palmerston North.
Police put Christine and Amber's times of death between 7pm and 7:15pm, but Lundy received a phone call in Wellington around an hour later, leading to disagreement as to whether there was enough time for him to drive from Kelvin Grove in Palmerston North to Petone in Wellington.
Lundy and Christine had been married 8 years, and Amber was their only child.
Police determined that Christine and Amber had both been bludgeoned to death with a tomahawk or axe, but no murder weapon was ever found.
One of Lundy's alibis that placed him in Wellington later on the night of the murders was a meeting with a prostitute in Petone.
Family divided over Lundy's guilt
Lundy's brother Craig gave evidence at the trial in 2002, and has said publicly that he believes Lundy is guilty.
Sister and brother-in-law Carol and David Jones continue to protest his innocence, and travelled to London to sit through the three-day appeal to Privy Council.
When asked why she insisted on her brother's innocence, Ms Jones said: "Because he's my brother."
Christine's family have said they were shocked to be told the case was going to the Privy Council.
Her brother Glen Weggery discovered the bodies, and said he was "staggered" it's come this far.
Mr Weggery said it was "karma" when Lundy reportedly underwent medical treatment for throat cancer in 2011.
"I've honestly got to say it's the first time I haven't been upset for someone when I've heard they've got cancer," he said.
Students recreate Lundy's mad dash
In 2009, students at Victoria University planned the 'Lundy 500' – a spinoff of the Christchurch to Dunedin 'Undie 500' – in which they planned to recreate Lundy's mad dash after the murders.
3 News
source: newshub archive
