R v S

In the High Court of New Zealand, Mr S was sentenced for the murder of his eight-month-old daughter, F, and an assault on her on at least one prior occasion. The court had to decide the appropriate sentence for these crimes, considering the principles of sentencing and the specific circumstances of the case. The primary issue was whether a sentence of life imprisonment would be manifestly unjust, and if so, the appropriate minimum non-parole period (MPI).

The court found that the circumstances of the offence and the offender did not render a sentence of life imprisonment manifestly unjust. Mr S, aged 24 at the time of the offence, showed callous indifference by assaulting his vulnerable baby, leading to her death. The court compared this case to others involving the murder of infants, which justified a similar approach. The statutory minimum MPI of 17 years was deemed appropriate given the factors of vulnerability and brutality. The court also sentenced Mr S to three months' imprisonment for the assault, to be served concurrently with the life sentence.

The final orders of the court were that Mr S be sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum non-parole period of 17 years for the murder, and three months' imprisonment for the assault, to be served concurrently.