An appeal by Clayton Weatherston against his murder conviction has been delayed for a second time, upsetting his victim's family.
Weatherston, 34, a tutor at Otago University, was sentenced to life in prison last year, with a minimum non-parole period of 18 years, for the 2008 murder of his 22-year-old former girlfriend Sophie Elliott, whom he stabbed 216 times.
His appeal was first delayed in May, and was set to be heard this week.
But the hearing had again been put on hold for a new date to be set.
Miss Elliott's father Gil told the Otago Daily Times he was upset by the system allowing the case to drag on.
"Goodness knows how long it could go on for."
Mr Elliott said his family was unable to get access to his daughter's possessions, including a diary and cellphones, until the appeal was heard.
A teleconference between Weatherston's lawyer Robert Lithgow QC and Crown lawyers was now scheduled for Thursday.
NZPA