Man who killed sister meant to frighten, not harm her - judge

Adrian Ngamotu during sentencing. Photo/Ben Fraser

Emotions ran raw with the crown prosecutor and judge choking up during a manslaughter sentencing in the High Court at Rotorua.

Both referred to Adrian Ngamotu's case as tragic and one that had divided his family. Ngamotu, 55, had earlier pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of his sister Lisa- Anne Ngamotu at Acacia Bay, Taupo, on May 8 last year.

Lisa-Anne was injured after Ngamotu backed into a caravan she was attempting to immobilise by placing it on blocks, sending it swinging around, striking her before pinning her to the ground.

She died in Waikato Hospital during surgery to the extensive body injuries she suffered.

Justice Anne Hinton on Wednesday sentenced him to three years and nine months' jail and disqualified him from driving for three years following his release.

Four harrowing victim impact statements were read to the court, two by prosecutor Chris Macklin.

There was emotion in his voice as he read one from the deceased's son Keanu Ngamotu, which told of his heart being shattered into a million pieces by his mother's death.

"I lost my heart, my backbone that day," Mr Ngamotu's statement said.

Sobbing, Lisa-Anne's partner Chopper Martin faced the dock and told Ngamotu "my partner paid your debts with her life, you need to take ownership of what you did and the precious life you took from us".

Justice Hinton described the statements as harrowing. When Ngamotu became agitated in the dock she allowed another sister to move from the public gallery to sit with and comfort him.

She noted he had suffered three strokes, including one while in custody on remand.

"I have serious concerns whether your health issues have been addressed in prison from the way you have been conducting yourself in court today," she told Ngamotu.

She said his motivation appeared to have been to intimidate and frighten, not harm, his sister.

- NZN