R v Armon - [2025] NZHC 1480

Defendant sentenced for murder of his 78-year-old mother to life imprisonment together with 15 years minimum period of imprisonment (MPI).   

Held: Provocation did not mitigate against life imprisonment despite a conflicted relationship and belittling comments by his mother at the time of the offending (s 102).  Circumstances of vulnerability and callousness were present to a high level engaging s 104(1)(e) and (g) of the Sentencing Act 2002.  Discount of two years to notional MPI of 17 years for the early guilty plea reflecting remorse, as otherwise the sentence would be manifestly unjust.