A 40-year-old West Auckland man was given a life sentence for a drug-related murder yesterday after changing his plea in the High Court at Auckland.
Michael John Hindman initially denied murdering 37-year-old Bruce Barlow last May 17.
But yesterday he admitted the killing. He was given a concurrent eight-year term for robbing Mr Barlow of a small amount of money.
Mr Barlow was hit in the head with a hammer and stabbed in the neck, then dumped in Woodhill Forest.
On Tuesday, Hindman sacked his lawyers and conducted his own defence, but a new lawyer, Roy Wade, was appointed for yesterday's hearing.
Mr Wade told Justice Hansen that Hindman had made a full admission to police and had helped them locate the body, which was some comfort to Mr Barlow's family.
Justice Hansen said he had no doubt that Hindman's addiction to drugs played a "significant if not critical role in the terrible event of last May."
Although Hindman did not make an early guilty plea, the judge said he was aware that, during the week, Hindman had been concerned to spare witnesses and members of the family the ordeal of giving evidence.
After the sentencing hearing, Detective Sergeant Gary Davey, who was involved in the inquiry, said Hindman's motivation for the killing was drugs and money.
"He was a desperate man and took desperate measures." He said Mr Barlow had about 2.7kg of cannabis, worth about $20,000, on him when he was murdered.
"It is the police view that Hindman owed money - was desperate for money - and so the cannabis was an easy option."
The killing took place at Hindman's home in Titirangi.
Detective Sergeant Davey said Mr Barlow's family were very appreciative that his body was found and could be buried in his home town of Te Kaha, near Opotiki.
Drugs murder accused changes plea to guilty
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