R v Leona - [2026] NZHC 1322

Sentencing for murder and strangulation. Mr Leona stabbed the deceased approximately 20 times with a knife at the back of a bus. Mr Leona then went to a family friend's address, breaking into the home and strangling the victim.

Held: sentenced to life imprisonment. Starting minimum period of imprisonment of 14 years. Aggravating factors of use of a weapon, brutality, vulnerability and to some degree the harm suffered by witnesses and family. Brutality, cruelty, and callousness engaged under s 104. However, it would be manifestly unjust to impose an MPI of 17 years' imprisonment. Mr Leona was suffering from a disease of the mind at the time of his offending, although this was linked to his consumption of methamphetamine. Uplift of eight months' for strangulation charge. Mitigating factors of guilty plea, remorse, background and addiction, and interests of Mr Leona's children. End sentence of life imprisonment with MPI of 12 years'.