But on August 30, 2000, when Mrs Lundy and her 7-year-old daughter Amber were found hacked to death in their Palmerston North home, the man described as a loving husband and father was collared as the culprit.
His trial on two counts of murder began day-three today.
Bill Lundy, his father, and Helen Weggery, Mrs Lundy's mother, had their evidence read in the High Court at Wellington this morning.
They were called as witnesses at the original trial in 2002 but had died since then.
"They had a very good and loving relationship," Bill Lundy said.
"Our family has always been very close . . . I don't recall them ever arguing."
Mrs Weggery's statement underscored that view.
"I know the accused treated my daughter well and Amber was the apple of his eye," she said.
The evidence read in court told the story of how the pair met in 1980 through a mutual interest in Scouts and Brownies.
After a 12-month romance they were engaged, just before Mrs Lundy turned 21.
Ten years after the couple married in 1983, Amber was born.
"I believe [the defendant] and Christine lived for each other and Amber," Bill Lundy said.
But things did not run perfectly smoothly for them.
The Lundys began trying for another child just over a year after Amber was born but were unsuccessful and visited a specialist.
Mrs Lundy also miscarried in the early stages of one pregnancy.
"Christine was very upset when she found out she couldn't have any other children . . . the accused didn't say much," Mrs Weggery said.
When Mrs Lundy's brother Glenn found his sister and niece's bodies, he said a conservatory door was open.
But in her evidence, his mother said the victim was very security conscious and always locked up when her husband was out of town on business trips, as he was on the night of the killing.
She said the only people who had house keys were the couple and herself.
The trial before Justice Simon France is expected to last up to nine weeks.
NZME.
