A MAN jailed for life after he stabbed his ex-lover to death is  set to launch an appeal.
Martin Bunch was jailed for 27 years in August after being convicted of the murder of Jeanette Goodwin at her home.
His family say he has been struggling to cope, after he was jailed for the killing in Quebec Avenue, Southend, in July last year.
Paula Hayes, 42, his partner of 24 years and mother of his three children said: “All I know is that it’s going ahead and as far as I know they have to wait a while before it goes before a judge to make a decision on whether they could go ahead with it.”
Miss Hayes said she did not know if the appeal would be against the sentence or the conviction, but believes it may be both.
Meanwhile, she said he had become so desperate he had been placed on suicide watch and had been refusing visitors at Chelmsford prison.
She said: “He’s been very down at the moment. There’s been two visits since he was convicted and now he’s not seeing anyone.
“He just doesn’t want to because he finds the visits so painful, he’s a bit of a mess, and the trouble is in there they don’t get to see a doctor as easily as on the outside.”
She revealed Bunch had even asked to be moved to another wing where he can be locked away for hours a day.
She said said: “He’s rather be locked away, he’s actually sat in his cell and asked them to lock the door, that’s what he’s got like.
“Yet the Martin I remember couldn’t bear to be left on his own, but now that’s what he asks for.”
The  family also seeking legal representation because they wish to take on South Essex Partnership Trust.
Miss Hayes had previously told the Echo they had repeatedly tried to get Bunch sectioned ahead of the killing, but no one had listened to them.
Now they want the trust to admit they have made a mistake, so they know changes will be made.
She said: “I just don’t want this to happen to somebody else. It frightens me, now I think how many times has this happened and we just don’t know about it.”
The Royal Courts of Justice said they had no appeal listed with them yet.
Meanwhile, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is still refusing to release their findings about police involvement in the case.
A spokesman said they were still discussing the findings with police and the force.