Sean McKinnon’s sisters Mary, left, and Emmeline talk to media outside the High Court at Hamilton after sentencing. Video / Belinda Feek
The sisters of Australian surfer Sean McKinnon, who was killed in Raglan last year, have spoken out after the jailing of their brother's murderer.
McKinnon was shot in his campervan in August last year in front of his partner Bianca Buckley by Mark Garson, 24, who today was handed alife sentence with a minimum non-parole period of 15 and a half years.
The High Court in Hamilton heard from Buckley as well as McKinnon's sisters Emmeline and Mary who travelled from Australia to share their grief in the courtroom.
Emmeline told media this afternoon that she was pleased with the sentence.
"It's a funny day because nothing is going to bring Sean back. We're saddened by that. But at the same time, too, we've been looking forward to it."
Emmeline said she wanted to speak to her brother's murderer in court, "but at the same time, this is a good time for us to separate our lives away from him now, and not really have that hold any more relevance in our day-to-day life going forward.
"It's just about trying to fill those places with the good memories of Sean and try to look towards the future.
"It's about trying to move forward in life and not let Sean's memory be the fact that he was murdered."
During their time in New Zealand, the sisters have visited Te Toto Gorge where their brother died to lay flowers, Emmeline said.
Bianca Buckley and Sean McKinnon. Photo / File
"For me personally, it's kind of time to leave that place alone now and bring Sean home.
"We went there just the other day and it certainly didn't feel as hostile as had previously had."
'I am forever changed'
Garson fatally shot McKinnon in a campervan during the early hours of August 16 last year.
The campervan was parked in the gorge in Raglan, which panoramic views of the Tasman sea.
Buckley was the first to speak in the High Court at Hamilton today, which startled Garson, who went on to wipe tears from his face and bend over in grief.
Mark Garson, 24, was today handed a life sentence with a minimum non-parole period of 15 and a half years. Photo / Belinda Feek
She told him how they had heard him knocking on the side and all around the caravan saying "I know you're in there".
Lying there naked, Buckley said McKinnon popped his head out and asked how he could help him, "in a non-threatening way".
Garson then demanded the keys to the campervan before smashing a window, and Buckley eventually getting cut from the glass, her naked body bleeding.
"Sean tried to reason with you … and without any warning you shot him, straight in the liver, point blank.
