Asling to appeal life sentence for killing

The hitman jailed for life for executing Melbourne underworld figure Graham "The Munster" Kinniburgh will appeal his conviction.

Stephen Asling was jailed for a minimum 27 years on Friday for what Supreme Court Justice Stephen Kaye branded a brutal and cowardly murder.

Asling maintains his innocence and has instructed his lawyers to appeal his conviction and sentence.

Mr Kinniburgh, 62, was gunned down outside his Kew home by Asling and the now dead Terrence Blewitt in 2003 on the orders of the late Carl Williams.

The judge said Mr Kinniburgh was executed as part of a $150,000 contract arranged by Williams, due to his "searing" hatred of the Moran family and their associates.

A jury convicted Asling of the murder in March, following a long trial.

In sentencing Asling, Justice Kaye labelled him a danger to the community with a disturbing history of using loaded guns.