Life term for 'stop-go' killer

Quinton Paul Winders in the High Court at Rotorua this morning. Photo: Stephen Parker via NZ Herald
Quinton Paul Winders in the High Court at Rotorua this morning. Photo: Stephen Parker via NZ Herald
The man found guilty of the "cold-blooded, calculated execution" of stop-go worker George Taiaroa has been sentenced to life imprisonment, serving a minimum 17 years in prison.

Quinton Paul Winders (46) was emotionless when the sentence was handed down by Justice Kit Toogood in the High Court at Rotorua today.

Both families were silent in the public gallery.

"The identity of the offender was the single issue of this trial. You denied and continue to deny you were the offender," Justice Kit Toogood said.

"But the jury found you guilty and I agree."

Justice Toogood said although the rifle that killed Taiaroa had never been found, he had "no doubt" it was the rifle registered in Winders' name.

"Mr Taiaroa was not the only victim in your crime. At the beginning of this proceeding I acknowledged the two families that have been devastated by what you did.

"I have read the three victim impact statements of Mr Taiaroa's children who described their father as warm and funny. A man who lived life to the full. A social butterfly who treated everyone as family.

"It is clear George Taiaroa was a generous, caring, compassionate man who loved his wife and family."

Toogood said Taiaroa was killed in a "cold-blooded, calculated execution".

At the beginning of the sentencing, Crown Solicitor Amanda Gordon read the victim impact statement of Taiaroa's son, Chad.

In it, he said he still thought about his father every day.

"I miss him more than words can express, especially on special days like Father's Day, Christmas and family birthdays.

"Any man can be a father but it takes someone special to be a dad. He was my dad and I miss him so much."

Taiaroa's daughter Rochai Taiaroa spoke of hearing of her father's death.

"There are moments in time that change your life. For me 19 March, 2013 was such a moment. I was at the gym when a news bulletin came on the TV saying a stop-go worker had been killed in Tokoroa.

"My first thought was 'thank God Dad wasn't in Tokoroa'. My second thought was that I felt for the victim's family."

She said it was not until she got home she was told it was her father who had been killed.

Rochai Taiaroa went on to explain how hard it was dealing with her family's grief while the case received so much media attention.

She said it was painful to hear her father be reduced to stereotypes in the media.

"I want to describe who my father was as a man, not just a Maori roadworker," she said.

"He loved people. All people. He saw the best in people, never judged. He treated everyone like family.

"As life gets bigger we miss him even more, he was the glue that held the family together.''

 

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