Schoolgirl's murderer fails to have conviction overturned

The man jailed for the rape and murder of 15-year-old Christchurch schoolgirl Marie Davis has lost a bid to have his conviction and sentence overturned.

Dean Cameron was last year sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of imprisonment of 19 years after Marie's naked body was found in the Waimakariri River in April 2008, 11 days after she went missing.

In May, Cameron went to the Court of Appeal, arguing the High Court jury's guilty verdict was unreasonable and there were errors of law in evidence admission, summing up, and the response to internet information found in the jury room.

Cameron also challenged his preventative detention sentence for the rape charge.

The Court of Appeal released its decision today, rejecting Cameron's appeal, saying none of his appeal points could have led to a miscarriage of justice.

It also refused to alter his sentence.

During the May trial Cameron's lawyer Frank Hogan argued it was possible Marie had committed suicide or accidentally fallen into the river, and the evidence did not prove Cameron raped and murdered her.

He also appealed against the evidence of several witnesses and directions made by trial judge, Justice Stephen Erber.

A decision not to sequester the jury had lead to one juror researching the definition of homicide on the internet, he said.

- NZPA