A Kaitaia man who the court says deliberately ran over and killed his partner will spend at least 17 years in prison.
Viliami Fungavaka, a sickness beneficiary, was found guilty of murder after an eight-week jury trial, and was sentenced today in the High Court at Whangarei.
Georgina Manuel died of multiple injuries in August 2013, after she was struck twice by the car Fungavaka was driving.
Justice Faire said the offence was committed with particular cruelty: the first time Fungavaka had hit Ms Manuel, she was knocked out and lay injured on the road.
Fungavaka then accelerated and hit her again, dragging her beneath the vehicle.
The judge said in his view the attacks were highly deliberate.
He sentenced Fungavaka to life imprisonment, with a non-parole period of 17 years.
