17 Feb 2017
R v MERRITT [2017] NZHC 232
- Citation
- [2017] NZHC 232
- Court
- High Court
The Court held s104(1)(e) applied because the killing involved brutality and callousness of a very high order (decisive steps to kill, multiple blows to the head, continuing strikes while victim was on the ground, and pronounced lack of remorse). However, the defendant's youth, absence of prior record and a diagnosed ASD materially reduced moral culpability; after allowances (approximately 20%) the Court set the minimum non-parole period at 12 years and imposed life imprisonment.