A GWENT man's appeal against his conviction for the murder of his girlfriend during a dream holiday will be heard next month.

Adrian Duggan, 37, from Blaina, was found guilty of murdering Catherine Campbell, 43, by an Indian court last year.

Ms Campbell was discovered in a pool of blood in the bedroom of a guesthouse in Goa on Christmas Day 2003. A pair of scissors was found near her body.

Serving life imprisonment in Goa after being convicted in August 2005 following a trial, Duggan has always protested his innocence.

He claims the couple were the victims of a violent robbery that left Ms Campbell fatally wounded and Duggan fighting for his life.

He was treated in hospital for a stab wound to the heart and a punctured lung.

His family have worked tirelessly to secure his release from prison and his mother Doreen is in India at the moment. She is able to visit him about twicea month.

His brother, Steve Duggan, a 44-year-old civil engineer from Abertillery, told the Argusthe appealwould be in early June and that it was likely to two or three days.

"We are confident and so is the lawyer. They must have the courage to admit there was a mistake. It's difficult to admit to mistakes but they must. The evidence is overwhelming. The whole prosecution story is riddled with inaccuracies. It's laughable," he said.

"But if everything goes OK, then he could be home in June.

"I spoke toAdrianabout two weeks ago and he is bearing up but we're a bit concerned about his health. He only has one kidney and the diet is not very good. He does not like all the spicy food."

Adrian Duggan's case has been championed by the charity Fair Trials Abroad, who confirmed his appeal is due to be heard in June.

The Argus has obtained a copy of the arguments his defence team are due to use in the appeal.

They will argue the prosecution established no motive and that the case was based on circumstantial and conflicting evidence.

His lawyers will quote evidence from a number of witnesses who claimed the bedroom door was latched from the inside - yet police say they were able to open the door and find the couple.

They will argue it would not have been possible for the police to have gained entry without breaking the door down if it had been locked from the inside.

Adrian Duggan's lawyers are also due to claim the prosecution failed to explain how he sustained his own life-threatening injuries.