Friends, family members and supporters of murdered New Zealand school teacher Prudence Hockley breathed a sigh of relief at her killer's sentencing in Seattle yesterday.
James Schindler, who had worked with Ms Hockley, 55, for at least 15 years before she was beaten to death by American body builder Johnnie Lee Wiggins on Christmas Eve 2011, said the exceptional sentence of 30 years' imprisonment handed out by Judge Laura Middaugh at the King County Superior Court was a pleasing result.
The mother-of-three was in a relationship with Wiggins - a convicted criminal with a history of illegal steroid abuse and violent and sexual offending - when she was murdered.
She died in hospital on Christmas day.
Wiggins' sentencing comes after a jury last month found him guilty of second degree murder.
Mr Schindler said many members of the Woodinville High School community - where Ms Hockley had taught English - were present at the sentencing.
Her former husband, Leonard Smith, and their daughter Willa also attended.
Ms Hockley moved to the US in 1978 after meeting Mr Smith in New Zealand, Mr Schindler said.
She was originally from Nelson and educated at Canterbury University.
Mr Schindler said a speech given by Mr Smith during the sentencing drew tears from the crowd, many of whom were colleagues and parents of the mother-of-three's former students.
Ms Hockley's youngest daughter, Maggie, who 13 when she found her mother's unconscious body on their driveway in 2011, was not in court. Her eldest son Sam, who lives in New York city, did not attend either, Mr Schindler said.
"It was very solemn and silent," Mr Schindler said of the atmosphere in the court room.
"But, I think from colleagues and our students who were there, were were letting out our breath in relief."
Mr Schindler said the sentencing would hopefully help those close to Ms Hockley, who he described as his best friend, look towards the future.
"I think it's a very good thought to know he's [Wiggins] not going to hurt anyone else.
"It's just so sad, she was vibrant and so beautiful," he said.
- By Matthew Backhouse and Teuila Fuatai of APNZ
