An Auckland man serving what is believed to be the longest minimum non-parole period given to a child murderer in New Zealand has had his appeal against conviction dismissed.
Joel Loffley is spending at least 19 years in prison for killing his two-year-old stepson James Lawrence, known as JJ, in November 2011.
The toddler suffered dozens of injuries in his short life, which ended when Loffley assaulted him so severely that some of his organs, including his liver and pancreas, split.
Loffley appealed against the conviction primarily on the grounds of a miscarriage from counsel error.
The Appeal Court says no counsel errors have been demonstrated, and evidence which Loffley offered cannot be considered fresh.
