Ron Burrows, with son Slade, expresses his disgust at the sentence. Picture / Mark Mitchell

Ron Burrows, with son Slade, expresses his disgust at the sentence. Picture / Mark Mitchell

By BRIDGET CARTER

The man who killed Coral-Ellen Burrows expected to get a heftier prison term, says his mother.

Steven Williams was yesterday sentenced to life imprisonment and must serve 15 years before being considered for parole.

Speaking to the Herald from her bed last night, Robyn Williams said she and her son thought he would get a tougher sentence for the murder of 6-year-old Coral.

The Wairarapa grandmother collapsed yesterday in a coffee bar while she was sitting down composing herself after what had been an exhausting day.

"It has been such a hype all these months, but now I just feel empty," she said.

Ms Williams said she had spoken to her son after the High Court sentencing in Wellington and he had broken down in tears - as she did when she got home after the ordeal.

"He is a bit bemused because it is all over," she said.

"We thought he would get a lot more."

The judge took into account Williams' early plea of guilty and his remorse at what he had done.

But Coral's father, Ron Burrows, was infuriated by the sentence, storming out of the court.

This week, Mr Burrows had travelled with family to Wellington from Matamata, hoping to see Williams, 29, from Featherston, jailed for at least 22 years.

In a white T-shirt with a picture of Coral and with the legend, "We love you Coral-Ellen", Mr Burrows sat quietly in court.

But after Williams was sentenced, he held his fist in the air, expressed his disgust with the justice system and marched through Wellington city streets boiling with anger.

"My daughter done nothing. She'll never have a 16th birthday or get married.

"Will I ever get to hold my grandchildren? Nah."

He did not believe Williams was remorseful, and recounted how he had searched for his daughter - "tears running down my eyes" - while Williams walked beside him.

"He's not remorseful, though. The only reason he's upset is that he's caught and he's got to stay in jail.