More than a year after pleading guilty to the murder of Calgarian Mark Mariani, white supremacist Tyler Sturrup has had a change of heart and appealed his conviction.

Citing several reasons, including the psychological state he was in at the time, Sturrup has asked the Alberta Court of Appeal to overturn his conviction for second-degree murder.

And in his handwritten notice of appeal, Sturrup cites problems with his lawyer as the main reason he wants to take his case to trial.

Sturrup, 29, was sentenced to life in prison without parole for at least 10 years after pleading guilty March 4, 2013 to second-degree murder in the random beating death of Mariani.

But calling his conviction a “miscarriage of justice,” Sturrup cited several reasons why his guilty plea should be struck.

“I was not receiving adequate guidance from my lawyer,” Sturrup claimed in his appeal notice, filed Monday.

“My lawyer never came to visit me to review any aspects of my case,” he wrote.

“At a time when I was psychologically beaten down from spending a prolonged period of time on a segregation unit — almost one year — I was pressured by my lawyer to take the deal,” he said.

“She said ‘it has nothing to do with what you did, it’s who you are’ that would get the Crown a conviction.”

Sturrup also alleged staff at the Calgary Remand Centre lost his disclosure, depriving him access to it.

He wants the province’s top court to order he stand trial before a judge sitting without a jury.

In his guilty plea, in which he signed a statement of agreed facts, Sturrup acknowledged taking part in the beating death of Mariani on Oct. 3, 2010.

Mariani, 47, was attacked by Sturrup and fellow skinhead Robert Reitmeier in an alley behind a northwest Calgary strip mall.

At Sturrup’s guilty plea, Crown prosecutor Adam May told court the admitted killer confessed to police, but never explained why Mariani was attacked.

In November, a jury found Reitmeier guilty of second-degree murder for his role in the killing.

He was also sentenced to life in prison, but his parole ineligibility was set at 13 years, instead of the minimum 10.

While Sturrup’s appeal has been filed well past the 30-day period for launching a review, the court can still hear the matter if it wishes to.

Reitmeier has also appealed both his conviction and sentence.

kevin.martin@sunmedia.ca

On Twitter: @SUNKevinMartin