A Tolaga Bay man who pleaded guilty to murdering his neighbour has been sentenced to life in prison and will not be eligible for parole for more than 15 years.
Selwyn David Cornelius earlier admitted killing Mark Paaka on 31 October in the small East Coast settlement, following a dispute over Mr Paaka's puppy roaming on his property.
There was a charged atmosphere in the High Court in Gisborne on Monday, which was full of family and friends of Mr Paaka.
The Crown summary of facts says Cornelius hit Mr Paaka with his car close to his home, then ran over him a further three times.
Mr Paaka, who was 40 and had six children, died a short time later in an ambulance from multiple internal injuries.
Cornelius has previous convictions for violent offences.
The head of the inquiry into the murder says it has hit the township hard because everyone knows each other.
Detective Sergeant Steve Smith also says it is rare for a murder investigation to be concluded in six weeks but not surprising given Cornelius admitted to others what he did, and the number of witnesses to the incident. He says some of those witnesses were children.
