R v Skeen

Vincent Angeane Skeen was sentenced for the manslaughter of Luke Tipene, which occurred on 31 October 2014. The Crown argued for a starting point in the upper half of Band Two of Taueki, suggesting eight years’ imprisonment, based on the extreme violence and premeditation in Skeen's actions. In contrast, the defence argued for a starting point of seven years, citing comparable cases where the weapon used was a knife. The court determined that seven and a half years was appropriate as a starting point. Considering Skeen's age at the time of the offence and his early offer to plead guilty, the court reduced the sentence by one year and 20 per cent respectively. Consequently, Skeen was sentenced to five years and two months' imprisonment.

The court outlined the purposes of sentencing, emphasizing accountability, community intolerance of such offending, and deterrence. The starting point was set to ensure consistency with other cases of similar offending. The court balanced the severity of the offence with Skeen's age and his early plea offer, resulting in a final sentence of five years and two months' imprisonment. This decision reflects the need to hold Skeen accountable while considering his personal circumstances and the potential long-term impact of a lengthy sentence on a young offender.