A West Coast man has been sentenced to life in prison after admitting shooting dead a 43-year-old woman in Greymouth last year.
George Sean Warren, 45, pleaded guilty to the murder of the woman, who has name suppression, in the Christchurch High Court in April.
His life sentence, with a minimum of 17 years, was handed down at a Greymouth High Court on Friday.
The incident took place at a Greymouth house while the 43-year-old victim's children were present.
Warren claims he went to the victim's house on September 28, 2017, and indecently assaulted her - which he says is the reason he returned, less than a week later on October 2, with a 308 rifle.
He threatened her and tried to fire the rifle as she was pleading for her life, the court heard, but the gun misfired.
After misfiring a second time Warren checked the barrel to make sure there was a bullet in the chamber.
He then shot for a third time, hitting her in the throat. She bled to death on her driveway, where she was discovered by one of her children.
Witnesses say they heard a loud bang before a car sped off which led to a day-long man-hunt for Warren.
Police caught Warren the day after the shooting just north of Hokitika.
The pair knew of each other, the court heard. The indecent assault has not been proven.
Police released a statement saying the sentence "reflects the gravity" of the crime.
"The small West Coast community was left shattered and baffled," a police spokesperson says.
"Police's thoughts are with the 43-year-old woman's family at this time, and we are grateful for their support and co-operation throughout the investigation."
Warren will be eligible for parole in 2035.
Newshub.
