Murdered teen's mum lashes out at 'farcical' sentence

Rebecca Templeman, mother of murdered Libby Templeman, hugs a supporter outside court after a life sentence was given to Hermanus Kriel at the High Court at Whangarei today. Photo / NZPA

The mother of murdered teen Liberty Rose Templeman said she could have "slapped the face" of the father of her killer, who was sentenced to life imprisonment today with a minimum of 11-1/2 years in jail before being eligible for parole.

An at times emotional Rebecca Templeman said outside the court "that man (Herman Kriel) smirked" when his son got such a light sentence.

"It's farcical...he should have got 30 years minimum," she said of 16-year-old Hermanus Theodorus [Theo] Kriel.

Kriel in 2008 beat Liberty, 15, unconscious, strangled her and then dragged her body into the Wairoa Stream at Kerikeri, leaving her face down to die. She drowned.

Kriel, 14 at the time of the killing, showed no emotion when sentenced by Justice Raynor Asher in the High Court at Whangarei this afternoon for "a brutal, cruel and callous" crime.

Last month a jury found Kriel guilty of murder by an 11 to one majority, but were unanimous in convicting him of a second charge of indecent assault, for which he was sentenced to six months imprisonment to be served concurrently.

Mrs Templeman, with her husband Andrew at her side, asked what messages were being sent to criminals and other young offenders when sentences being imposed for heinous crimes were "mere tokens".

"It's not only disrespectful of the deceased but also the surviving victims [family and friends]... Can somebody please explain to us why they think Libby's life is only worth a 11-and-half-years."

At this point her voice broke with emotion.

"We see it that there should be a minimum sentence of at least 30 years for murder, with that sentence increased depending on the severity of the trauma inflicted."

She appealed for the current system of justice to be reviewed and new laws to be introduced to deter would-be criminals.

The Templemans are British - the Kriels immigrated from South Africa - and Mrs Templeman said the immigration laws of New Zealand also need to be revised.

Migrants like the Kriel family need to meet very stringent requirements before being considered, she said.

Theo Kriel should be deported, she said.

Mrs Templeman said she had heard that Kriel wanted to apologise by letter but had been prevented from doing so by his lawyers.

"It's too late now. That apology should have come 16 months ago...his parents acknowledged that he knew he'd done wrong. He's such a loved child and has been supported by his family and has shown no emotion, just like his father."

Mr Templeman interrupted: "He [Kriel's father] smirked, he smirked."

Mrs Templeman: "It made us realise just how little respect they seem to have not only for us, but for Liberty herself. It's disgusting."

Sentencing took nearly four hours.

Crown prosecutor Michael Smith argued for a minimum jail term of 17 years before parole, but defence counsel Catherine Cull said that was too long.

During the presentation the Templemans and their son Billy read tearful victim impact reports, Mrs Templeman turning directly at one stage to address a hunched and expressionless Kriel.

Justice Asher said whatever triggered Kriel to kill only the accused knew.

A report from an experienced Justice Department officer who had observed Kriel in custody noted he did show remorse and his actions were out of character.

The court was packed with supporters of the Templemans but quiet throughout.

The Kriels appeared to have only one supporter.

Ms Cull said the Kriels had not made comments in the media throughout the trial and would not.

- NZPA