Life sentence for killing Glen Innes prostitute

8.00pm

A 23-year-old man was today given a life sentence after admitting murdering prostitute Denise Helen Holmes.

Desmond Malcolm Knox, 23, of no fixed address, killed the 27-year-old woman at her Glenn Innes flat on January 1.

Prosecutor Mark Woolford told Justice Hugh Williams in the High Court at Auckland that the killing took place after the pair had sex.

Part way through the attack Knox paused to decide whether he would let Ms Holmes live. But he decided to kill her and continued the assault.

Knox told police that he was unsure why he initially assaulted Ms Holmes but decided to kill her so that she would not be able to tell anyone what he had done.

Mr Woolford said Knox had tried to slash her throat and then wrapped clothing around her neck, forcing the ends into her mouth. After several minutes struggling, Ms Holmes died.

Knox then sniffed from a can of paint before searching the flat and taking $2.50 in coins. Three days later a friend found Ms Holmes' body.

Knox was represented by Paul Dacre.