16 Sep 2014

Woman sentenced to life in prison

4:45 pm on 16 September 2014

A woman who murdered an elderly man by knocking him out with a sports trophy and setting him alight, has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum non-parole period of 15 years.

The body of Peter Dixon, who was 77, was found inside his Manurewa home as it burned in February 2012.

The 48-year-old woman, who has permanent name suppression, had earlier pleaded guilty to murder and arson, and other arson charges and stealing more than $12,000 from her workplace.

The Crown said it was a calculated murder as the woman waited for Mr Dixon's family to leave for work before attacking him.

Her lawyer said the woman had been previously diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder, and had been sexually abused as a teenager.