Paul Wilson, who admitted raping and killing Nicole Marie Tuxford in Christchurch while on parole for a similar murder, has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum non-parole period of 28 years.
Paul Tainui, also known as Paul Wilson, in court. Photo: Supplied by NZ Herald
Nicole Marie Tuxford was found dead in her Exeter Street home about 11.40am on 7 April 2018.
Wilson, who changed his name to Paul Tainui, admitted last year to raping and murdering her that morning when she arrived home.
The night before, he failed a breath test at an alcohol checkpoint on Bealey Ave, and police found two knives in his car boot.
He was still on parole for the 1994 murder of his ex-girlfriend Kimberly Jean Schroder in Hokitika at the time, having been released on parole in January 2011.
Justice Cameron Mander said there was no sentence the court can impose that could heal the emotional harm caused by Tainui.
He said Tuxford's murder was committed in cold blood and the damage was irreparable.
Ms Tuxford - who was said to light up a room with her personality - had ambitions to become a counsellor so she could help others.
At the time of her death, her family said she moved to Christchurch after high school.
Nicole Marie Tuxford was found dead in her Exeter Street home about 11.40am on 7 April 2018. Photo: Supplied
In a victim impact statement read out in court this morning, Ms Tuxford's sister Jess recalled having to tell the rest of her family what had happened to her.
She said every day was a constant reminder of the destruction and devastation caused by Wilson.
Ms Tuxford's partner Clay Saunders spoke of his feelings of loss.
He said that when Wilson killed Ms Tuxford, he took away his soulmate, a woman who would be a friend to anyone who needed one.
Sitting before a packed courtroom in the High Court in Christchurch, Wilson refused to look any members of Ms Tuxford's family in the eyes despite repeated pleas for him to do so in five victim impact statements.
Wilson met David Bain while in prison for Ms Schroder's murder and went on to be a groomsman at his wedding.
