Children, 6 and 14, tried to stop man viciously beating partner to death with paving stone

After beating his partner to death, Rueben Paul Peeni fled the scene only to return with his sister a short time later before being arrested by police. Photo / File

WARNING: Distressing content - violence

As Rueben Paul Peeni repeatedly bashed his former partner with a 7kg paving stone, two children desperately tried to save Crystal Lee Selwyn's life.

But one child, a 14-year-old who lived nearby, was simply pushed away by Peeni as he tried to intervene, while his own child, aged 6, also tried to stop his father beating his mum, by pulling on his T-shirt and biting him.

It was a beating described as so horrific, Peeni will now serve a minimum 15-and-a-half years in jail for killing Selwyn in front of five of her six children, and three others. All of the children present were aged between 6 and 14.

Before beginning formalities, Justice Lang took the time to address the whānau personally stating that while what they were doing seemed like an exercise in academia, it was an important part of the criminal process which has left her six children without a mother, and a very sorely missed, daughter and niece.

All of the couple's six children were aged under 12, while they had been together for 18 years but had recently split, with Selwyn having a new partner.

In sentencing, Justice Lang told the court the effects on the children of witnessing and hearing the attack - which lasted 90 seconds - would be life-long.

Crown prosecutor Rebecca Mann said the callousness, brutality and cruelty of the attack was at a high level while young mum was also vulnerable and defenceless as Peeni pinned her down by her hair during the attack.

But it was the fact the attack not only happened in front of the children, but that they also tried in vain to stop it, that saw the judge set a starting point of 17 years minimum non-parole.

"The taunts you made to Crystal in the presence of your children," Justice Lang said, [that] added a further element of depravity and callousness to the brutality.

"Furthermore the children were not only present but two of them also tried to stop you. The fact that you carried out this attack in the presence of and in the face of opposition of the children takes the callousness and cruelty of your offending to another level.

"It's difficult to see how any father could subject his young children and their friends to seeing and hearing conduct such as this."

It was also recorded by the 111 call centre after Selwyn called police for help on the evening of November 23, 2019.

Peeni had spent the day drinking and just returned from buying more alcohol when he started walking around the house and was heard saying that he was going to kill Selwyn.

At 6.27pm, she called 111 for help.

Standing outside the house and with a 111 dispatcher able to listen, Peeni then punched the 38-year-old to the head, with her falling to the ground.

He then grabbed her hair and continued punching her four more times.

The 14-year-old then tried to intervene but was pushed away by Peeni. His 6-year-old son then also tried to stop him by pulling his shirt and biting him.

Crystal Lee Selwyn was beaten to death by her partner Rueben Peeni in front of several children, two of whom tried to stop the brutal attack. Photo / File

Instead of stopping, Peeni intensified his brutal attack by picking up a paving stone estimated at weighing between 6 and 7kg and began hitting her around the head several times while telling her that she was going to die, along with many obscenities.

After briefly putting the paving stone down, Peeni picked it up again and continued the attack, hitting her again between 7 and 10 times telling her "die you f****** a*******".

Three of the children witnessed the horrific attack - which lasted about 90 seconds - while five others heard screaming.

Peeni then fled, leaving the bloodied paving stone behind, for his sister's house.

He returned with his sister and her husband a short time later. Police were at the scene and he was arrested.

Selwyn died of her injuries, mostly to her head, in hospital four days later.

When questioned by police, Peeni admitted assaulting Selwyn and told them he had just "lost it" but believed he'd only struck her with the brick twice.

He pleaded guilty to Selwyn's murder on February 25.

Several members of both families were in the public gallery for sentencing but none wanted to comment outside court.

Justice Lang said it would be some time before the family got over what happened.

"It will be many years, if ever, the family will come to terms with the grief they are suffering."

While Selwyn's mother's victim impact statement was suppressed by the court, Justice Lang said her aunty said a part of her died when she was taken that day.

The incident had caused psychological harm to all of the children present that day and the judge said there was no dispute Peeni would be jailed for life, it was just a matter for how long.

Mann argued for a starting point of up to 20 years, while defence counsel Ann-Marie Beveridge submitted between 12 and 14 years.

The couple's home had been subject to many police callouts over the years with Peeni also being arrested and even jailed for his attacks on her.

However, Beveridge asked the judge to only take into count Peeni's convictions in relation to their volatile relationship and to dismiss the 111 callouts.

However, Justice Lang said a starting point of 17 years was appropriate with an 18-month discount for Peeni's early guilty plea.