By JO-MARIE BROWN
Why David McGruther broke into a Tauranga house and stabbed a complete stranger to death is a question that will always haunt the victim's family.
Ann McKenzie and her five children yesterday saw McGruther sentenced in the High Court at Rotorua to a non-parole period of 13 years for the brutal and "motiveless" attack on Noel McKenzie in the early hours of June 15.
Police have looked at numerous motives - from a botched burglary to McGruther's own explanation that he was looking for his cat.
But why the 25-year-old transient chose to break into the McKenzies' Pillans Pt home, seize two kitchen knives and stab the periodic detention warden as he lay in bed is likely to remain McGruther's secret.
Nathan and Raymond McKenzie said yesterday that they were relieved their father's killer was in prison but his sentencing did not put the matter to rest.
"He doesn't even have the decency to say why he did it," Nathan McKenzie said. "He's just going to leave us with that big question."
Detectives say they may visit McGruther in prison to ask him why. But he has already told police through his lawyer, Paul Mabey, QC, that he will remain silent.
McGruther was arrested 12 days after the murder in Auckland, where he told his father, Piers McGruther: "I think I've killed somebody."
Psychiatrists who examined McGruther said he was not insane but the killer himself appears unsure of his motive.
"I don't know why I did it. I'm not a bad person," he sobbed when interviewed by police. "I've lost my soul. I'm going to jail."
McGruther pleaded guilty to the murder two weeks ago.
Imposing the 13-year non-parole period under tough home invasion laws, Justice Barry Paterson said McGruther would never fully appreciate the impact of his actions on the McKenzie family.
"All the five children will carry psychological scars for the rest of their lives.
"Grandchildren have lost a loving grandfather. Other grandchildren will never know their grandfather."
Mrs McKenzie, who watched in terror that night as the "wild man" murdered her husband of 42 years, has never returned to their Myres St home and now fears the dark.
Raymond McKenzie said the family would now focus on helping their mother rebuild her life.
"She's got memories, and you can't remove memories. She will cope, I'm sure, but it's not going to happen overnight."
But the family, who do not believe McGruther will ever reveal his motive, say moving on will be hard.
"It just doesn't finish because we've walked out of the courtroom," Raymond McKenzie said. "It doesn't bring dad back."
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