5 Jun 2013

Life sentence for killer of Christchurch teenager

8:45 pm on 5 June 2013

The man who killed a teenager and buried his remains in different cemeteries has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 18 years in jail.

Gavin Gosnell was sentenced at the High Court in Christchurch on Wednesday after being found guilty by a jury in April of the murder of 15-year-old Hayden Miles.

The 28-year-old admitted attacking the boy at his Christchurch home in August 2011, but denied murder, saying he didn't mean to kill him.

During his trial, the jury heard that Gosnell had inflicted a prolonged attack on the boy and used a saw to remove his limbs. The remains were not discovered until December 2011 at two cemeteries in Christchurch.

In sentencing, Justice Chisholm said Gosnell set out to be cruel and described the attack as extreme brutality. "It is difficult to believe that there are people amongst us capable of such a macabre and evil deed."

In her victim statement, Jacqueline Miles told the court she is constantly tormented by what happened to her son.

"To find out that Hayden had been murdered and dismembered brought me to my knees. A part of me died that day too. I was sick to my stomach; it made me vomit every day.

"The inhumane way of how Hayden was murdered, along with the hiding of his remains, is the most horrific, evil thing anyone could do to another human being - and Gosnell did this to my Hayden."

In a surprise move, Gosnell dismissed his lawyer and made his own statement, insisting that he isn't a murderer and saying he wants to appeal against his conviction.

Speaking outside the court, Hayden Miles' aunt, Sandy Ward, said no sentence would ever be enough for the inhumane way he died and that a life sentence should mean life in prison.

But other family members say the sentence is appropriate. Speaking for Hayden's father's side of the family, lawyer Andrew Riches said they are satisfied with the term imposed.

"The family are quite relieved that the judge took the time to take into account the callousness in which Hayden was treated. In particular, they feel that an 18-year non-parole period is quite appropriate.

"They're extremely relieved that this is now the end of the process and that they can rest assured that Gavin's not going to have any ability to harm another person for quite some time to come."