If Travis Burns is released from prison, his family and society must ensure he never kills again, Justice Robert Chambers said yesterday.
In an unusual move, the judge addressed Burns' family after a jury in the High Court at Auckland found the 32-year-old guilty of murdering Whangaparaoa mother Joanne McCarthy.
Justice Chambers said he would not look at the family members so as not to identify them.
It is understood that Burns' mother, Charlotte, and an aunt were in the public gallery.
They were heard to whisper: "He didn't do it, he didn't do it" as the verdict was read.
Justice Chambers told them: "Obviously this verdict will be a shock to you and a disappointment.
"Travis will need your support over the years ahead as he begins a long haul in prison.
"And if and when he is finally released, we all have a responsibility to ensure that he never offends in this tragic way again."
Burns, who looked stunned when the verdict was read, may be locked away for a minimum of 13 years.
He was given a mandatory life sentence, which normally means at least 10 years, but prosecutor Christine Gordon said the Crown would apply for a longer non-parole period.
And Justice Chambers said he would have to consider whether Burns was subject to a mandatory 13 years under home invasion legislation.
He will consider those issues, as well as a penalty for an aggravated burglary conviction, on September 18.
Outside the court, Burns' lawyer, Barry Hart, said he was very disappointed with the verdict.
"Travis said he was shattered and gutted. It's been a long, wearying trial for us all."
Mr Hart said an appeal would be lodged in due course. He would not go into specifics, but said there were "substantial grounds."
"This is not the end of it," he added.
Before the jury came back into court after nearly 24 hours of deliberation, Justice Chambers warned a packed public gallery against any outbursts.
But emotions spilled over as the guilty verdict was read - Ms McCarthy's family and friends gasped in relief and police officers who had lived with the case for almost two years held back tears.
Justice Chambers had words of sympathy for Ms McCarthy's family.
"We can't begin to imagine the pain that you have endured and continue to endure.
"No doubt the trial has been harrowing for you as you have all had to hear in minute detail the last minutes of Joanne's life. But the trial, while harrowing ... I hope has also been a step in the healing process and I wish you all luck as you struggle to rebuild your lives."
He thanked the jury for "sterling work" on a very difficult case that included "a huge amount of gruelling evidence."
The seven-week trial was marked by several dramatic moments.
A forensic scientist admitted that she contaminated a sample with her own DNA; a former friend of Burns told the jury Burns had admitted killing Ms McCarthy and then feeding the crying toddlers; and Burns himself took the stand, admitting he was a thief and would-be bank robber, but no killer.
Burns was caught after a DNA databank match. He had given a voluntary blood sample in 1997, and when DNA material from under Ms McCarthy's fingernails was put into the computer, it came up with Burns' name. The DNA material was said to be 300 billion times more likely to come from Burns than from any other male New Zealander.
'Shattered' Burns intends to appeal
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