Man who tried to take out contract on priest loses appeal

An Auckland taxi driver, jailed for five years for trying to take out a contract on the life of a priest he believed was his wife's lover, has lost an appeal against his conviction.

Bhikubhai Patel was convicted in April 2007 of attempting to procure the murder of Sunil Shandra.

He was also found guilty of two charges of threatening to kill Mr Shandra and three of threatening to kill his own wife, Sumun.

Patel appealed the conviction questioning the legality of a taped conversation he had with a police informant.

The defence also raised concerns about the translation of the conversations, which were recorded in Hindi.

But the appeal judges dismissed the appeal.

- NZPA