Killer David Lyness fails in legal bid to overturn conviction for cut-throat murder of his fiancee Anita Downey

David Lyness claimed some of the evidence which led to him being found guilty of killing Anita Downey in Lurgan, Co Armagh in January 2017 “doesn’t stack up”.

Issues were also raised about the 54-year-old being denied the opportunity to make a closing speech to the jury after dismissing his legal team.

But judges in the Court of Appeal today backed prosecution submissions that the case against him was overwhelming.

Lord Justice Treacy said: “There is nothing we have read or heard which has caused us to arrive at a conclusion that the conviction is unsafe.”

Lyness is serving a minimum of 18 years behind bars for Ms Downey’s murder.

The 51-year-old mother of three bled to death on the floor of his Toberhewney Hall home from a wound to the left side of her neck.

Lyness claimed she had come at him with a knife during a drink-fuelled argument, and that he tried to disarm her in a frantic struggle.

When he noticed blood coming from her, according to his version of events, he tried to take his own life by cutting his throat and lying down beside her.

But the jury heard evidence from the defendant’s son, Shane Lyness, who said he witnessed his father straddling Ms Downey and attacking her neck with a kitchen knife.

An assistant state pathologist for Northern Ireland also rejected any suggestion that the fatal wounds could have been inflicted accidentally.

Lyness was called to give evidence at trial, but soon accused his own barrister of asking him to perjure himself and refusing to answer any more questions put to him.

He sacked a number of lawyers during the case and represented himself when brought from prison for today’s appeal hearing.

At one point he told the three-judge panel: “Shane Lyness’s evidence doesn’t stack up.”

However, Crown counsel argued that the defendant’s actions had been aimed at frustrating the trial process.

It was claimed that Lyness “sacrificed” his own barrister by making “outrageous” allegations against him in a bid to avoid any difficult questions about how Ms Downey died.

“He was covering up his unwillingness to tackle the issue head-on, under the smokescreen of his representation,” counsel insisted.

Despite acknowledging the apparent significance of Lyness being denied the right to address the jury, he maintained the trial was fair.

“In this case the evidence was overwhelming,” the prosecutor said.

Following submissions Lord Justice Treacy confirmed Lyness’s appeal had been dismissed.

He added: “We will give our detailed reasons in due course.”