"After killing them you think you can run? How far can you run?"
These are the words devastated husband and father Dev Sangha yelled in Punjabi to Deepak Nagpal as the double killer was led from the dock by prison guards yesterday.
Nagpal had just been sentenced to life imprisonment with a 20-year non-parole period for the brutal murders of Mr Sangha's wife Ravneet, 32, and 2-year-old daughter Anna.
Mr Sangha leapt from his seat in the public gallery in the High Court at Rotorua and ran at Nagpal but was restrained by police and security guards.
Nagpal did not look at him, or reply.
After being led to another room to calm down, Mr Sangha emerged 10 minutes later to talk to reporters.
He said he had lunged at Nagpal because throughout the summary of facts being read by Justice Tim Brewer he "could see Anna and Raavi before my eyes".
He had a vision of Anna running from Nagpal with blood on her shoes.
He later told the Bay of Plenty Times Weekend the exact words he yelled.
"It is hard. I don't feel anything at the moment. I feel numb," he said.
Of Nagpal's sentence, he said: "He does not deserve any life but I respect New Zealand law."
Throughout yesterday's sentencing, Nagpal remained straight-faced and spent most of his appearance with his head bowed. On one occasion he began sniffing and wiped his eyes with his hand.
Justice Brewer's comments were translated for him by a Punjabi interpreter.
Mr Sangha sat in the public gallery red-eyed, but dignified and composed. His final outburst was unexpected.
Nagpal, 24, a kiwifruit worker, received two concurrent life imprisonment sentences after earlier pleading guilty to two counts of murder in respect of 32-year-old Mrs Sangha and Anna on June 4 last year.
Nagpal must serve at least 20 years before he is eligible to apply for parole.
Money has emerged as the motive, with Nagpal believing the Sanghas owed him $17,000.
Mrs Sangha was stabbed more than 100 times and Anna was stabbed and cut 10 times in the face and neck during the frenzied attack on June 4, 2010.
Police discovered Mrs Sangha's bloodied body at the Ngatai Rd home she shared with her taxi-driver husband at 3pm on June 6 - two days after she was killed.
Anna's body was found in the washing machine in the laundry mid-morning on June 7.
Mr Sangha was in India on business when the murders occurred.
Crown prosecutor Rob Ronayne described the attack against two vulnerable people, especially Anna, as "brutal and callous".
"The explanation by the prisoner to the offending that it was over some sort of dispute over money in the region of $17,000, in no way justifies the violence at all."
Outside court, Mr Sangha said he did not believe Nagpal, his former friend and boarder, was remorseful for his actions - despite an apology letter.
Before the killings, Nagpal had referred to Ravneet as "sister" and had a close bond with Anna.
"He is all fake. We failed to read what sort of person he is."
Western Bay of Plenty area commander Inspector Mike Clement (pictured with Mr Sangha above), sat with Mr Sangha in court. He said Mr Sangha had shown incredible courage and composure throughout the ordeal.
Mr Sangha and police officers had had to to relive Ravneet and Anna's last moments many times.
In terms of gravity, the murders were "up there at the top end".
"And the 2-year-old child just adds another dimension," Mr Clement said.
Mr Sangha's adopted Kiwi mum, Mount Maunganui woman Ann Munro, clung to a framed photograph of Anna, whose name was inspired by hers.
She said there was little relief in Nagpal's sentence as it would never bring Ravneet and Anna back.
When asked if she believed Nagpal was remorseful, she said: "I think he is to some point. He did love Anna. It was completely out of character."
She said Mr Sangha was not coping well. "There is a void in his life and he feels empty. He loved his family."
Tauranga taxi driver Harminder Singh, a friend of Mr Sangha, said Nagpal's sentence was not long enough.
Editorial: Brutal double murderer Nagpal must not be released
Bay of Plenty Times
