The man found guilty of murdering 2-year-old Joseph Ruhe Lawrence has begun appealing against his conviction to the Court of Appeal in Auckland.
Joel Loffley is serving a sentence of life imprisonment for the murder of the toddler, known as JJ, who died in an Orakei house where he lived
with his stepfather Loffley and his mother Josephine Lawrence in November 2011.
During Loffley's trial late last year, the court was told JJ died from horrific injuries as a result of Loffley kicking or punching him with "extraordinary force''.
Loffley lodged an appeal against conviction to the Court of Appeal.
The evidence was suppressed until the court reaches its decision.
