A man who carried out a violent murder with a machete near an Auckland chapel in January, has been jailed for life.
Ueta Vea - aged 45 - will not be eligible for parole for 17 years.
In November, Vea was suspicious the man he murdered, Laulimu Liuasi, was having an affair with Veisinia, his wife, NZME reports.
Liuasi's family were grappling to accept what had happened, Justice Simon Moore told the Auckland High Court.
"They have seen their family structure collapse.
"Through your actions, you have broken this family."
Vea and Liuasi had worked together previously looking after the church, and also went to church with their families, NZME reports.
Flirtatious text messages were sent between Vea's wife and Liuasi, according to court documents, which led to further tension.
Vea remained suspicious and on January 13, walked to the church with the machete wrapped in a blue lavalava.
When the victim left his home to ring the bell, Vea entered his house.
Upon his return, Luiasi was attacked, NZME reports.
Justice Moore said: "When you were done you didn't lift a finger to help him. This level of callousness just adds another level of culpability.
"Using the machete you rained blows down upon him."
Newshub.
