A man found guilty of murdering a Lower Hutt man by hitting him with an ornamental cat statue while he slept has been jailed for life and will serve at least 13 years in jail.
Harold Skudder disappeared in 2007 but was not reported missing until February 2008.
In March last year, Sean Brown led the police to Mr Skudder's body, which had been thrown down a steep bank in Upper Hutt.
Brown was found guilty in March this year of murder.
In sentencing on Monday, Justice Ronald Young said a minimum jail term was required to reflect the fact that Mr Skudder was asleep at the time of the attack and completely vulnerable.
He also said Brown behaved callously after the murder, removing the body and disguising the killing for many years.
Brown's lawyer, Greg King, read a letter to the court in which his client apologised to the Skudder family for the pain and suffering he'd caused them. He said he accepted that no one deserved to have done to them what he'd done to Harold Skudder and it was a "crime worth throwing away the key".
Mr Skudder's mother, Molly Skudder, was in tears after the sentencing but said the family was happy with the jail term given.
Outside the court, Harold Skudder's oldest brother, Ben Skudder junior, said the family is doing its best to support Harold's children.
Mr Skudder says now the court process is over, the family will be able to attend to other matters, such as unveiling a memorial for Harold.
