Mark Lundy's appeal against his convictions for murdering his wife and daughter has been dismissed.
Christine Lundy and seven-year-old Amber were killed at their home in Palmerston North in August 2000. Lundy was jailed after being found guilty of their murders in 2002, but that was overturned by the Privy Council in 2013.
He was convicted again in 2015, but appealed to the Supreme Court.
Evidence used in the second trial to show DNA found in stains on his shirt came from humans was later ruled inadmissible by the Court of Appeal, as being too difficult for the jury to understand. But the court also ruled the convictions should stand, saying the trial was otherwise fair and the evidence still pointed towards his guilt.
Lundy's lawyer said he was convicted on "flawed science", but the Crown said it was an "inescapable conclusion" that he was guilty regardless.
Following the dismissal, a statement was released on behalf of Lundy.
"As he has from the day of the tragic death of his wife and daughter, and regardless of the outcome of the appeal process, Mark Lundy maintains his innocence," it said.
The statement said Lundy and his legal team were disappointed in the Supreme Court decision and again said that it was frustrating Lundy "has never had the opportunity to have his guilt or innocence determined by a jury who were not exposed to bad science - scientific opinion that a jury should have heard".
"Whilst the decision of the Supreme Court marks the end of the formal legal appeal processes for Mr Lundy, there is no doubt that his supporters including forensic experts from around the world, will continue to monitor international developments and will not give up the fight on behalf of Mr Lundy."
The statement said that the Lundy case had "troubled the legal system in New Zealand" for nearly two decades and that the issues Lundy could raise during appeal were constrained by legal process.
"Our newly established Criminal Cases Review Commission will not be so constrained. This is not the end of the road in Mr Lundy’s fight to establish he has suffered a miscarriage of justice."
Lundy is serving a life sentence. He's up for parole in August 2022.
