Body-in-suitcase killer loses bid to reduce sentence for double murder

Double murder victims Khandalyce Kiara Pearce (left) and Karlie Jade Pearce-Stevenson. (Supplied: SA Police)

Daniel Holdom's appeal to reduce his two life sentences has been dismissed by a New South Wales court.

He murdered his partner Karlie Jade Pearce-Stevenson and her two-year-old daughter Khandalyce Kiara Pearce in a case that transfixed the nation, after the toddler's body was found in a suitcase in a remote part of South Australia in 2008.

The dismissal means Holdom will remain in prison indefinitely.

The family of a two-year-old girl and her 20-year-old mother — whose bodies were found dumped in different parts of rural Australia after being murdered — has welcomed a decision not to reduce their killer's sentence.

Readers are advised this article contains graphic details that may be distressing.

Daniel Holdom, now in his 50s, was handed two life sentences in November 2018 after pleading guilty to the murders of Karlie Jade Pearce-Stevenson, 20, and her daughter Khandalyce Kiara Pearce in December 2008.

The New South Wales's Court of Criminal Appeal handed down a judgement on Friday which dismissed an application brought by Holdom to reduce his sentences.

Relatives of Ms Pearce-Stevenson and Khandalyce released a statement following the judgement in which they welcomed the decision.

"Our family wants to thank the DPP, the multiple police departments and everyone who has supported us through this," the statement read.

"Your dedication has brought justice. Your kindness has carried us.

Holdom murdered Ms Pearce-Stevenson and dumped her body in the Belanglo State Forest, in the NSW Southern Highlands, on 15 December 2008.

The Court of Criminal Appeal judgement stated that after killing the 20-year-old mother, Holdom took "degrading and sexualised photographs of her in the forest and kept these for many years".

Daniel Holdom dumped the bodies of the mother and daughter 1,200 kilometres apart. (Supplied)

Four days later, Holdom also murdered two-and-a-half-year-old Khandalyce at Narrandera, in south-western New South Wales.

"The circumstances of each murder were horrific and there were sexual overtones to each," the judgement read.

"For some years afterwards, the applicant took steps to make it appear that the victims were still alive.

"These steps included using Karlie's mobile telephone to contact her family and fraudulently using her bank account."

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In 2010, Ms Pearce-Stevenson's remains were found but weren't identified as hers until 2015.

In July 2015, Khandal