A young father hooked on synthetic cannabis murdered a man in a jealous and paranoid rage, a court has been told.
Joseph Falefiaosinga Rota, 24, killed Wainuiomata man Huri Edward King-Mosen last October.
Rota was today sentenced to life imprisonment with no chance of parole for 10 years.
Mr King-Mosen's family filled the public gallery for Rota's sentencing in the High Court at Wellington today.
Rota pleaded guilty to murder last month. The father of two kept his head down in the dock, as the judge addressed the court today.
Rota's lawyer Paul Paino said his client was suffering from "some quite severe mental disorders" at the time of his arrest for murder.
Rota was 22 at the time of the killing. Mr King-Mosen was 24.
The court was told Rota had become paranoid and mistrustful of friends and family after getting addicted to synthetic marijuana, which was legal at the time.
"It was clear you were mentally disordered as a consequence of addiction to synthetic cannabis," Justice Simon France said.
Rota believed his partner was unfaithful and may have been seeing Mr King-Mosen.
In Wainuiomata on Monday October 28 last year, Mr King-Mosen was alone in his bedroom. Rota entered the room and started talking to him.
Justice France said Rota then either misinterpreted something Mr King-Mosen said, or took offence to the tone he used.
"You thought he was mocking you and you fell into a rage."
Rota hit Mr King-Mosen and a struggle ensued before Rota strangled the young man with a cord.
Justice France said Rota earlier acknowledged killing in a "drug-induced rage."
Mr Paino said Rota penned a letter to the King-Mosen whanau in which he expressed remorse.
"My words stumble as I try to acknowledge what you are going through," Rota said in a letter read to the court. "I hurt Huri but never wished death upon him."
Rota also said he hoped for forgiveness and took "full responsibility" for the death of Mr King-Mosen.
Justice France said mental illness did affect Rota's "blameworthiness" and the prosecution accepted Rota should serve a non-parole period of 10 years at most.
But the judge said jealousy and "a sense of ownership" of his partner were also at play. "It's important you appreciate your actions have had a severe impact and will always continue to do so."
The judge told Rota his release in 10 years was not guaranteed. And if released, he would be subject to parole conditions and could at any time "for the rest of his life" be sent back to jail.
In July last year, the Psychoactive Substances Bill obligated shopkeepers to get a licence to sell legal highs, removing synthetic cannabis from most dairies.
This year, the Psychoactive Substances Amendment Act banned all remaining psychoactive products in New Zealand.
By John Weekes of NZME. News Service
