THE killer of an Ebbw Vale man was due to begin an appeal against his murder conviction today.

Ebbw Vale-born Arron Powell, 56, died after he was stabbed once through the heart in a railway station in Orleans, 80 miles south of Paris, in April 2002.

The killing was the second tragedy to hit his family in 16 months.

Former steelworker Mr Powell had gone on holiday to try to get over the death of his 20-year-old daughter, Mandy, who was killed by a hit-and-run driver in Cardiff in December 2000.

The mechanic, who had later lived in Cardiff, was travelling with family friend, Claire Alderman, shortly after the trial of his daughter's killer.

Salal Said, 40, was jailed for six years by a judge at Newport crown court in March 2002 after being convicted of causing death by dangerous driving.

Mr Powell's wife, Maria, had been due to join the pair in Spain the following week along with Mandy's young daughter, Renee.

Elias Laguedani, who was 19 at the time of the stabbing, admitted killing Mr Powell but denied murder. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison at Orleans in January this year.

The appeal hearing at the Palais de Justice in Tours is expected to last two days.