Sandringham dairy stabbing: Man who murdered Janak Patel sentenced to life in prison

The man who murdered Auckland dairy worker Janak Patel has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum non-parole period of 15 years.

Frederick Hobson, who pleaded guilty to murder, and Shane Tane, who pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery, were both sentenced in the High Court in Auckland this morning.

Hobson, who is a 501 deportee, was sentenced to life imprisonment, with a non-parole period of 15 years, while Tane was sentenced to four years and six months' imprisonment.

A third man - Henry Ford - had already been granted a stay of proceedings due to being terminally ill.

Patel was stabbed to death while working at the Rose Cottage Superette in Sandringham, central Auckland in November 2022.

In court, Hobson's lawyer David Young read out a statment on his behalf, saying he is ashamed and deeply remorseful for taking an innocent man's life.

"I have caused a lot of pain and suffering to the family and the victims, also members of the public, and nothing I say or do will ever fix that. That is something I will have to life with for the rest of my life," he read.

His statement expressed his wishes to study while imprisoned and become a better role model for his children.

"I plan to use this time wisely to do courses and rehabilitation, and to get qualifications and tools, that will help me become a better man."

Justice Simon Moore accepted Hobson was remorseful and that his struggles with homelessness, unemployment, and drug addiction struggles contributed to his offending.

A family grieving

During a reading of four victim impact statements from Patel's mother, father, sister, and brother-in-law, to an almost full public gallery, several people were in tears.

The family said their lives had been shattered after the murder of their beloved son and brother.

Patel's sister, Nilam Patel, said her brother was a wonderful uncle who put his family before himself.

Patel has moved to New Zealand just one week before his death, and his sister said she was excited to have her brother in the country with her, after she moved here eight years prior.

"Janak came to New Zealand to marry the woman he loved, and to be in the country he adored. It was a new and exciting life for them."

Patel owns a dairy in the Waikato region with her husband, and her family feared for their safety.

She recalled receiving a call from her sister-in-law on the night Janak died.

"They had only just assimilated when their world was shattered. The few moments I was on the phone with her have become flashbacks, repeating often, and for no specific reason. Her frantic and scared voice remains in my memory."

Speaking to media after the sentencing, she said if police had taken more action after the crime Hobson committed in Australia, her brother would still be alive.

Concerns for small business and dairy owners

While working at the dairy on th night he was killed, Patel chased down Hobson after he took the cash register, as well as a box of butane lighters and vapes.

Patel was described by family and Justice Simon Moore as heroic.

Speaking to media after the sentencing, Detective Inspector Geoff Baber said retailers should not confront offenders and should instead focus on "coming out at the other end".

"Retailers should not be taking matters into their own hands. They are putting themselves and their customers at risk."

Baber said the sentencing was appropriate for a heinous crime that rocked the community.

Justice Moore also acknowledged the murder sparked a national outcry and caused fear in the community and for other small business owners like Patel's sister.

Victim 'simply doing his job' - police

Police also released a statement after the sentencing with Baber saying: "He [Patel] was simply doing his job and should not have been subjected to the violent events that unfolded that night.

"While today's sentencing brings an end to court proceedings, Janak's family will live with his absence for the rest of their lives.

"No sentence will ever bring Janak home."

Police also acknowledged the wider Sandringham and retail communities.

"Janak's murder had a profound impact on the Sandringham community given the superette's place in the neighbourhood," Detective Inspector Baber said.

"This community also played an important role in assisting our investigation team in the days and weeks following this incident, and I would like to acknowledge this support."

He also praised the police's investigation team.

"The team worked thoroughly to piece together the facts surrounding Janak's death, with his killer in custody within days," he said.

Their work resulted in the three offenders being charged and made to "face the consequences of their violent actions".

An earlier court hearing was told Hobson planned to enter the superette, armed with a knife, to take cash and any other items he could manage.

At about 8pm, he wore a black bandana covering half of his face, and ran into the dairy.

He confronted Patel with the knife, causing him to flee into a back room.

Hobson took the cash register, as well as a box of butane lighters and vapes, before leaving the store.

Patel ran after him, armed with a hockey stick from the back of the shop.

Hobson put the cash register in a nearby recycling wheelie bin as Patel approached, and went towards him aggressively, as Patel retreated swinging the hockey stick.

Court documents revealed Hobson lunged at Patel and knocked him to the ground, stabbing him at least three times.

Hobson tried to wrestle the hockey stick from Patel's grasp, stabbing him a further three times.

"The final blow was to Mr Patel's neck, causing him to fall to the ground once again."

Patel used the wheelie bin in an attempt to get away from Hobson, but collapsed after taking five steps back towards the dairy.

Hobson collected the bin and left the scene.

Patel's death sparked protests by dairy owners over the safety of small businesses, while more than $100,000 was raised for his family.