The Gambian butcher sentenced to life in prison for murdering Christchurch sex worker Renee Duckmanton has had his conviction appeal denied.
Sainey Marong was sentenced to a minimum non-parole period of 18 years in jail after a jury found him guilty of Ms Duckmanton's murder at the Christchurch High Court in April.
Marong, 33, appealed his conviction, claiming it was unjust because he was 'insane' and represented himself at a Court of Appeal hearing in Christchurch last month.
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Marong had claimed at the time he killed Ms Duckmanton he was insane because he had not had the proper insulin amount for his diabetes.
However the Court of Appeal judgement released on Wednesday states his appeal was dismissed as no experts considered him insane.
"Mr Marong's calculated behaviour was plainly abnormal in the extreme, but the only expert evidence about his state of mind was unequivocal; he suffered from no disease of the mind, and was able to understand the nature and quality of his acts and to distinguish right from wrong," the appeal judges concluded.
At his appeal hearing, Marong told the court the Crown had no legal authority to prosecute him according to the Criminal Procedures Act, as he was unable to properly communicate with his lawyer.
After his arrest, Marong tested positive to diabetes - however he claims his medical records were misrepresented, and his worsening health problems were not disclosed to the jury.
A psychiatrist and a psychologist assessed Marong before he stood trial, and concluded that he did not meet the criteria for an insanity defence. They also concluded diabetes, if left untreated, could cause disease of the mind - but this did not happen to Marong.
Mark Lillico, who represented the Crown, said all expert evidence states Marong fell below threshold required to suggest an insulin deficiency led to the murder.
Marong claims the jury should have found him not guilty by reasons of insanity.
Ms Duckmanton, 22, was killed in May 2016 after being picked up from Manchester St in the city's red light district for a job worth $300.
She was strangled to death, and her body was left burning on the side of the road near the Rakaia River.
At his trial, Marong denied that he meant to kill Ms Duckmanton, saying he had no murderous intent.
He instead claimed he was insane suffering mental impairment and delusional, psychotic thoughts at the time which started after he voluntarily stopped taking his insulin medication in 2016.
However, the jury dismissed Marong's claims.
Newshub.
