Ewen Macdonald jailed for five years
UPDATED with raw data: Justice Simon's full sentencing remarks.
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Hawke’s Bay
Ewen Macdonald has been sentenced to five year’s jail for a string of offences, including arson and vandalism.
RAW DATA: Justice France's sentencing remarks PDF)
The 32-year-old was acquitted of murdering his brother-in-law Scott Guy, shot on his Feilding farm in 2010, after a High Court trial in July.
But he admitted six unrelated charges for which he was sentenced at Palmerson North High Court today.
"I saw and heard no sign of remorse; indeed if anything there were statements consistent only with continuing indifference," Justice Simon said in his sentencing remarks.
The charges included:
- Theft: Stealing trophy stags from a nearby farm (for which McDonald was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment)
- Intentional damage: Releasing 16,000 litres of milk from a vat on a neighbour’s farm (nine months' imprisonment)
- Wilful damage: Killing 19 calves by bashing them on the head (on year imprisonment)
- Arson: Burning down a hut and Kylee and Scott Guy’s old home (three years' imprisonment)
- Intentional damage: Vandalising Kylee and Scott Guy's new home (two years' imprisonment)
Justice Simon France reduced the sentence from five years and six months to five years, with the two arson terms to be served cumulatively.
Justice Simon noted the Crown had asked for reparations of $250,000 declined. "I do not consider that any purpose is served by creating expectations that cannot be met," he said.
Macdonald, who has already been behind bars for 17 months, was remanded in custody after his murder trial at Wellington High Court to await today’s sentencing.
NBR staff
Fri, 14 Sep 2012
Fri, 14 Sep 2012
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Ewen Macdonald jailed for five years
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