Killer's jail term little comfort for David's grieving parents

It's been almost five months since an unprovoked, single punch to the head, ended David van Berlo's life in the carpark of the Bayfair Tavern.
But for his heartbroken parents, John and Kathy van Berlo, their only son's death created such a void in their lives, his bedroom, work gear, PlayStation, TV and other personal belongings remain untouched.
Mr and Mrs van Berlo say losing their son on the day before his 30th birthday was like a stab through the heart and they have been unable to face packing up his things or selling his car still parked in the driveway.
But yesterday when his killer, father of five Paul Carmichael, 28, of Arataki - who punched him in a jealous fit of rage on April 20 - was jailed for two years 10 months in the High Court at Rotorua, it at least provided some finality to the tragedy, they say.
The unprovoked attack occurred after Mr van Berlo noticed Carmichael's partner had dropped her handbag and sweatshirt in the Bayfair Tavern carpark and picked it up to return to her.
An intoxicated Carmichael took exception to him talking to her and punched him once in the head. Mr van Berlo fell backward, fatally striking his head on the concrete surface of the carpark.
Carmichael called police but said he didn't think the blow had been forceful enough to kill someone.
Before his sentencing, a tearful Carmichael stood in the dock and listened to his victim's inconsolable mother read her and then her husband's victim impact statements to him.
"Who gave you the right to kill my darling son David? It's a mother's worst nightmare to lose a child before their time. The day you killed David you also killed a part of me.
"My heart breaks for him every day. He was a kind and gentle man and was doing what we as parents taught our children to do, help people in need. The death of David has changed our life forever."
No matter what sentence Carmichael was given it wouldn't be enough, she said.
"Ours is a life sentence and I will never ever forgive you for taking David from us."
Mr van Berlo said the loss of his only son had been a huge toll on him personally. "I still wake up at night thinking about what you have done to him and trying to figure out why you did it.
"You had no right to take my son's life. I will never get to see him get married, have his own children or see him carry on our family name. There is no justice for me because you are still alive and David is dead."
His sister, Michelle Gaylor, said her brother would do anything for anyone and "in the end it was his kindness that lead to his tragic death".
Her eight-year-old son Brayden, who adored his uncle, also penned a victim impact statement read to the court.
"You make me feel so angry and have hurt me by taking my uncle away.
"But I will always love and remember him and you can't take that away from me."
Crown prosecutor Duncan McWilliam told Justice Paul Heath that this "most serious crime" deserved a sentence starting at between 3 1/2 to four years and an increase for aggravated features.
These included Carmichael's seven prior convictions for assault and violent anti-social behaviour, premeditation shown and the profound impact on his victims.
Defence lawyer Tony Balme argued for a slightly lesser sentence, saying his client's punch was impulsive rather than premeditated but accepted the fatal blow was unprovoked.
It was a blow that Carmichael said would "haunt him for the rest of his days," and his remorse was genuine and he intended to never drink again.
Justice Heath said sentencing was never an easy task. "But it does not get much more serious than the taking of a human life albeit without any intent to do so.
"No doubt any sentence will be deemed too harsh by you. I also know any sentence will be regarded as too lenient and insufficient to mark the death of love one."
But under the Sentencing Act he said he had to give Carmichael credit for ringing the police himself, his early guilty plea, and "albeit a ham-fisted attempt", his efforts to try to attend to his victim.
Outside court, Mrs and Mrs van Berlo said Carmichael's sentence was "quite light" but in the end nothing would bring their son back, who they say had so much to live for.
An events organiser at Carlton Party Hire, Mr van Berlo was an avid rugby and motorsport fan, especially V8 Supercars.