R v Sloane

Gwenda Leigh Sloane was sentenced in the High Court of New Zealand in Rotorua for the murder of Michelle Hoffman-Tamm. The court heard that Sloane had subjected Hoffman-Tamm to a sustained and violent assault, resulting in her death, and had also mutilated her body. The Crown argued that Sloane should be sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of at least 17 years. Sloane agreed to this sentence, relying principally on her guilty plea. The court considered the impact of the murder on Hoffman-Tamm's family, who had suffered a significant loss. Sloane expressed remorse for her actions, attributing her violent behaviour to alcohol consumption. The court found that the murder involved a high degree of brutality, depravity, and callousness, and that a minimum term of at least 17 years was warranted. However, the court granted a discount for Sloane's early guilty plea, resulting in a minimum term of 14 years. Sloane was sentenced to life imprisonment, subject to a minimum term of 14 years.
The final orders of the court were that Gwenda Leigh Sloane be sentenced to imprisonment for life, subject to a minimum term of imprisonment of 14 years. Sloane was also warned of the consequences of any further serious violent offence or murder.