An Ōpōtiki man found guilty of the manslaughter killing of his 77-year-old friend Brian Albert Hilton five years ago has been jailed for more than seven years.
Justice Kit Toogood said Harry Clement Matchitt brutally beat Hilton, who was just 49kgs, and "callously left him for dead" critically injured on the floor of his Ōpōtiki home on July 7, 2016.
Hilton was found deeply unconscious lying in the lounge the next day and died in Tauranga Hospital on July 13, 2016.
Toogood, who sentenced Matchitt, 54, in the Rotorua High Court today told him that it was "extremely fortunate" he was not convicted of murder.
"You were a guest in Mr Hilton's home and had a few drinks together and then for reasons which are not clear you beat him violently around the head," he said.
"You struck Mr Hilton several times with such force as to cause fractures to his facial bones, both eye sockets, his nose and an injury behind his right ear.
"The injuries were so severe that parts of his face, jaw and nose were no longer connected to his skull...The force used was the kind seen in high trauma incidents such as motor vehicle accidents," he said.
Toogood also said there was no evidence at Matchitt's jury trial in the Tauranga High Court in July this year that the attack had been provoked by Hilton.
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Advertise with NZME.The Crown's case was that a "drunken and angry" Matchitt inflicted blows to Hilton's head, face, neck and chest. His DNA was found at Hilton's house on one of the beer bottles.
The defence argued it was not Matchitt seen on security camera footage entering Hilton's home on the evening of July 7 and leaving about an hour later.
Matchitt told the jury he visited his "good friend" Brian Hilton earlier that day and had a drink with him, but insisted they never argued or got into a physical altercation.
His lawyer, Roger Gowing, argued at the trial that Hilton's assault was more likely a "burglary gone wrong" committed by another man known to have conflicts with Hilton.
Toogood sentenced Matchitt to seven years and nine months' prison and imposed a minimum non-parole period of three years and nine months.
Toogood said he had taken into account Matchitt's 177 prior convictions, many for drink driving, and violent offences, and he already served 64 sentences of imprisonment.
"There is no doubt that the combination of your addiction to alcohol and violent temper has led you to use your fists far too often."
Matchitt was a long-term user of cannabis and had used other drugs.
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Advertise with NZME.Toogood said he also took into account Matchitt's deprived upbringing from a young age and was subjected to sustained periods of physical abuse and mistreatment.
The long-term impacts of head injuries Matchitt suffered as a result of assaults and a motor vehicle accident had not been fully assessed, he said.
While Matchitt denied his offending and had shown no remorse, he expressed a wish to make changes to become a better person and "an example to younger people", he said.
Toogood directed reports on Matchitt be made available to the Department of Corrections so that he might undertake appropriate rehabilitation treatments.
