House of Horrors killer shows no remorse

Jason Somerville. Photo / Simon Baker

"Quit crying over what you have lost", the poem reads from beyond the grave.

The words of the late Rebecca Chamberlain were poignant as her husband and murderer was jailed yesterday for the shocking events at Christchurch's House of Horrors.

Plenty of tears were shed for Ms Chamberlain and fellow victim Tisha Lowry. But there was no sign of any from their killer, Jason Paul Somerville, 34.

One by one, sobbing relatives strode to the podium in the crowded Christchurch High Court to describe their loss. And each time, as they looked across the room to Somerville, the most they got back was a blank stare.

Dressed casually in blue jeans and a grey short-sleeve shirt buttoned tightly at the neck, the only emotion visible on Somerville's heavily-bearded face throughout his sentencing was the occasional frown or look of confusion.

There was nothing to show any remorse for strangling Ms Chamberlain, 35, and Miss Lowry, 28, and having sex with the bodies before burying them beneath his home.

This lack of remorse was seized upon by Justice Lester Chisholm as he sentenced Somerville to serve at least 23 years in jail.

"For my part, Mr Somerville, I find this absolutely incomprehensible," he said. "Your conduct could hardly be worse."

Somerville's lawyer, David Ruth, tried to give some explanation for Somerville's nature by pointing to a head injury and sexual abuse he suffered in his childhood.

"It does give some insight and background to this man and how he is made up.

"Right from the early days there has been a worrying trend of strangulation being part of his response to situations that are either not of his liking or stressful to him."

Miss Lowry's mother, Tanya, said she was haunted by nightmares of her daughter being buried or lying in a river.

"I wouldn't wish the emotions this has caused me on my worst enemy."

Miss Lowry's pregnant sister, Leanne Hodder, was too upset to read her full statement to the court, in which she told Somerville: "I hate you with so much of myself that this hate I feel towards you is interfering with the rest of my life." Her brother Jacob was even more scathing: "You do not deserve to be on this Earth."

Ms Chamberlain had been trying to get her life back together, and regain custody of her children, after moving to Christchurch from Taupo. The poem she wrote was found after her death, titled "I am not a Mistake".