3 Apr 2009

Murder conviction appeal rejected

2:09 pm on 3 April 2009

A man who killed two people when he drove his car into a crowd in east Auckland has had an appeal against his murder conviction and sentence rejected.

Darin Gardner was given a minimum non-parole period of 18 and a half years for killing Melissa Viall and Kane Wright in October 2006.

The victims died when he twice drove his car into a crowd of people on Pakuranga Highway.

Three Court of Appeal judges have rejected claims by Gardner's lawyers that the layout of the court, and the conduct of the victims' supporters at his trial, had placed pressure on the jury.

They say no concerns about the integrity of the court process were raised during the trial, and no juror complained of being intimidated.