A man has been jailed for a minimum non-parole period of 17 years for murdering a woman by slitting her throat from ear to ear.
Duncan Conrad Murray Frost, 49, better known as Jack, appeared for sentence in the High Court in New Plymouth today after earlier being found guilty of murdering Angela Deane, 55, at her New Plymouth home on February 1 last year.
During the seven-day trial the court was told Frost and Ms Deane had drank wine and smoked cannabis before Ms Deane started to cook fish fingers and hash browns for dinner.
Frost approached Ms Deane stabbing her in the back then cutting her throat.
Frost had admitted slitting Ms Deane's throat and stabbing her but claimed he was provoked and his actions constituted manslaughter.
He said he killed Ms Deane as part of his crusade against methamphetamine.
It was disclosed to the court today that Frost had 84 previous convictions, including assault with intent to injure and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Justice Paul Heath told him he believed his victim had not said anything provocative to him before he killed her.
"You liked the killing and realised you were quite good at it," he said.
He said one stab wound might illustrate a lapse moment, 10 stab wounds a frenzied attack, but his murder demonstrated "cold-bloodedness of the highest rank."
"You were on this half-baked crusade against P. You had effectively set yourself up as a judge and jury. In this case against Ms Deane, you were also her executioner."
