Man jailed for killing his high school sweetheart

A Pahiatua man has been sentence to life imprisonment for murdering his high school sweetheart during a P-fuelled domestic dispute.

Tom Aporo killed his partner of 17-years Rosemary Harry in July last year.

In the High Court at Palmerston North this morning Aporo was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum non-parole period of 15-and-a-half-years.

Family and friends of victim and the accused cried as the court heard of the traumatic injuries inflicted on Ms Harry.

The knife snapped in her neck and she had more than 60 facial fractures, inflicted by a wheel brace and brass pot plant stand wielded by Aporo.

Justice Ronald Young took into account Aporo's guilty plea which only came at what would have been the start of a trial last month.

- NEWSTALK ZB