The man who murdered Whanganui woman Marice McGregor has been jailed for at least 15 years.
Dean Richard Mulligan, 43, at first confessed then denied his guilt, and still says he did not kill her.
Mulligan, an amputee and former computer technician, met Ms McGregor, 45, on an internet dating site and drained her bank accounts of at least $30,000 during a two-year relationship.
In Whanganui High Court on Friday, Justice Clifford said Mulligan believed he would also get her house and remaining wealth if she died.
In April last year, Ms McGregor told his church pastor about the relationship and threatened to go to Mulligan's wife.
Mulligan responded by killing her in a remote ravine off State Highway 4 about 50km of Whanganui, with two blows to the back of her head and one to the face with an iron bar. Her body was discovered in May.
During the trial in June this year, Mulligan claimed the real killer had sexually assaulted and threatened him into making a false confession to police.
Justice Clifford said Mulligan was a pathological liar and a fantasist, and had shown no remorse in continuing to claim his innocence.
Ms McGregor's family said on Friday that they are satisfied with the sentence.
