New Zealand Case Law: Decisions & Judgments | LexChat

Topic

Contract killing

Legal area

Court

24 Oct 2019

R v MORGAN [2019] NZHC 2718

Citation

[2019] NZHC 2718
Court

High Court

The judge found beyond reasonable doubt that both defendants accepted a contract to kill the victim in exchange for drugs/cash, engaged in calculated planning including experimentation with GHB and exploitation of the victim's trust and child, and that the killing exhibited a high level of callousness; accordingly life sentences with a minimum period of imprisonment of 17 years were imposed for each, with concurrent terms for the drug supply convictions.
28 Mar 2014

WAN YEE CHOW v R [2014] NZSC 29

Citation

[2014] NZSC 29
Court

Supreme Court

Leave to appeal was dismissed because the Court of Appeal correctly concluded, on clinical assessments and trial record, that there was no reasonable possibility the applicant was unfit to plead, that interpretation and disclosure did not impede his defence, and that the mandatory 17-year minimum term was appropriate given the premeditated, financially‑motivated contract killing, so the interests of justice do not require a further appeal.