Darkie Thomas Cable has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum non-parole period of 12 years. Photo / Andrew Warner
Darkie Thomas Cable has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum non-parole period of 12 years. Photo / Andrew Warner
The man who beat Sam Shaylani Reid to death has been jailed for life with a minimum non-parole period of 12 years.
Reid's killer Darkie Thomas Cable pleaded guilty to her murder on the morning his trial was due to start in August.
Paere Hunuhunu, who read out a victimimpact statement in the High Court at Rotorua yesterday, said the last time she spoke to her niece, Reid, was at a funeral for Reid's mother who had died of a brain tumour.
Hunuhunu remembers Reid saying, "Who is going to protect me now?"
Just days later, Hunuhunu would be at Reid's bedside at Waikato Hospital as life support was turned off.
According to the police summary of facts, about 10am on January 25, 2020, Cable became enraged when, after asking Reid to get his things from their car, Reid returned without his Mongrel Mob patch.
Cable assaulted Reid in a grassy area on the property north of Taupō where they were staying.
He punched her to the ground and when she tried to get up Cable continued to punch Reid.
The violence was forceful enough to knock Reid unconscious. She never woke up.
At Cable's sentencing today, Hunuhunu said she still "struggled" with the knowledge that Reid was killed at the hands of someone she loved.
Hunuhunu described Reid as having a beautiful smile, contagious laugh and a mother with a deep bond of love for her children.
Hunuhunu said the loss of Reid left "a massive hole" in the family.
"I worry for my mokopuna and what life is going to be like for them in the future."
Darkie Thomas Cable pleaded guilty to the murder of Samantha Reid on the day his High Court trial was due to begin. Photo / Andrew Warner
Krishla Reid wrote in her victim impact statement that the choice to take her sister off life support was "the hardest decision to make ever".
"I had just seen her 14 hours prior ... walking into that hospital room seeing chords and tubes all over Sam. She was brain dead. I was numb.
"There was singing, prayers, crying and more crying. I was over-crying. My eyes were hurting."
Krishla wrote that her "main goal" will be to teach her sister's children "not to be like you [Cable]."
The victim impact statements from Krishla, Dallas Hunuhunu and Maketu kaumātua Murray Trainer were read to the court by Crown prosecutor Amanda Gordon.
Gordon was visibly moved by the statements she read and struggled to finish.
Justice Kevin Muir sentenced Cable to life imprisonment with a minimum of 12 years without parole.
Justice Muir said the victim impact statements gave him a strong sense of Reid's essential goodness and love for her children as well as "infinite loss and hurt" caused by her death.
"Krishla's account of the anguish that overwhelmed family members as Ms Reid's life support was turned off is one I am likely to carry for the rest of my judicial days."
Justice Muir took into account statements made in support of Cable by his family which described Cable's traumatic upbringing.
Justice Muir said there were many who had tried to steer Cable's life in a different direction.
"No one compelled you to follow the path you did."
After the sentencing there were many tears and embraces outside the courtroom as about 20 people had attended the proceedings, some sitting in a separate room and watching a video link.
