A road-rage killer has been sentenced to life in prison with a non-parole period of 10 years.
Shayd Robinson, 21, was found guilty by a jury at the Wellington High Court jury on Tuesday of murdering Aaron Hatfield on 26 January last year.
The 27-year-old died the morning after being stabbed once in the chest during the incident in the Lower Hutt suburb of Stokes Valley last year.
Robinson claimed that he had acted in self-defence.
During the trial, the court was told Aaron Hadfield had been driving aggressively and Robinson's acquaintance Axl Stark shouted abuse at him.
When Mr Hadfield stopped the car, Robinson started punching him through the open window. He then took out a knife and stabbed Mr Hadfield in the chest, penetrating his heart and lung.
During sentencing on Friday, Justice Miller accepted that Mr Hadfield had grabbed Robinson's hoodie and Robinson probably stabbed him to make him let go, but didn't accept his claim he was acting in self-defence.
The judge told the court he is not reading much into dramatic statements made by Robinson that the blood on the knife "tasted good".
Justice Miller said the life sentence is a harsh one and Robinson could have made something of his life had he not committed murder.
He said Robinson had a rough upbringing with a violent father and parents who abused drugs and alcohol, but previously had no convictions which was quite an achievement.
Axl Stark, 23, was earlier sentenced to four months' home detention after admitting to assault and intentional damage in relation to the incident.
