R v Boulter - [2026] NZHC 326

R v Boulter – sentencing

Defendant pleaded guilty to murder of woman he had brief relationship with – obsessive behaviour, threatening messages, waited outside her house with a hunting knife, 55 stab wounds to her body, limbs and head, victim's two children were present – history of obsessive behaviour towards women escalating in physical attacks – life imprisonment not manifestly unjust – 17 year notional MPI appropriate considering case law (including 18-month uplift for criminal history and 18-month deduction for guilty plea) – ss 86P and 104 Sentencing Act 2002 apply – not accepted that defendant's planning was lengthy or calculated – accepted that high level of brutality and callousness was present.