PALMERSTON NORTH — 2000 · Murder
The Palmerston North Double Murder (2000)
In August 2000 a woman and her seven-year-old daughter were found killed at their home in Palmerston North. The father, who said he had been out of town at the time, was charged and convicted of both murders in 2002. The defence challenged the scientific methods used to establish the time of death and to analyse stains on a shirt. In 2013 the Privy Council in London quashed the convictions, saying expert evidence not presented at the first trial raised serious doubts, and ordered a retrial. At the 2015 retrial in Wellington the prosecution presented a different version of events and the jury again found him guilty. He was released on parole in 2025. The case is still debated in New Zealand.
- Date
- 2000
- Place
- Manawatū-Whanganui, New Zealand, Palmerston North, NZ
- Category
- Murder
- Case Status
- Solved
- Coordinates
- -40.3523, 175.6082 ↗
Timeline of Events
- August 2000A woman and her seven-year-old daughter were found dead at home.
- 2002The father was convicted of both murders.
- 2013The Privy Council quashed the convictions and ordered a retrial.
- April 2015At the retrial he was again found guilty.
- 2025He was released on parole.
Sources
- RNZ — Lundy convictions quashed, retrial ordered rnz.co.nz ↗
- SBS News — Retrial ordered by Privy Council sbs.com.au ↗
- NZ Parole Board — Decision, 17 April 2025 paroleboard.govt.nz ↗
- RNZ
- SBS News
- NZ Parole Board
Source grade A: several independent sources, at least one an official record or reference work. If you spot a mistake or something missing, report it with "Suggest a correction" in the app.
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Categories
🕯️ This record was prepared with respect, in memory of those who lost their lives.