'Callous' killer jailed for life

A man was yesterday jailed for at least 18 years for the "callous" killing of his stepson who was repeatedly kicked, beaten with a cricket stump and thrown against a wall.

Johnny Pukerua Joachim, 37, was sentenced to jail for life when he appeared in the High Court at Nelson for murdering 7-year-old Duwayne Toetu Taote Pailegutu.

Joachim must serve a minimum non-parole period of 18 years.

Duwayne suffered a brutal beating and died a slow death from asphyxiation by inhaling blood into his lungs after Joachim refused to allow the boy's mother to seek medical aid.


Justice Robert Dobson said Joachim's offending was at the worst end of the scale but he co-operated with police and entered an early guilty plea.

- NZPA