Longer sentence for jailed woman

SENTENCED: Toni Miller during her 2013 murder trial.

Sentenced to eight years in jail for her part in a 2013 murder, Toni Maree Miller has had another six weeks added to her sentence for ripping off Work and Income for close to $30,000.

The 23-year-old, who was involved in the murder of Featherston man Glen Jones, was told when she appeared before Judge Barbara Morris in Masterton District Court on Thursday the sentence would be kept at a minimum because of her early guilty plea and the fact she was doing everything possible in jail to help her on her release.

Miller is due before the parole board on November 21, 2016, the court heard.

Lawyer James Elliott had submitted a "plea for mercy" because of the length of time Miller was already serving and the fact she had pleaded guilty at the earliest time.

She was doing everything possible to return to her children who had been separated since Miller was jailed, Mr Elliott said.

"She has set herself very clear goals. It's dear to her heart to be home by the end of that year to be with her children."

Judge Morris sentenced Miller to six weeks' jail to be served on top of her current sentence "as a deterrence" to others who were wrongfully collecting benefits.

Miller had collected the single parent benefit, accommodation costs and temporary additional support while living with a man between October 25, 2010 and January 14 last year, receiving an overpayment of $29,383.91 in benefits.

"It's a very long sentence you are already serving ... [six weeks] will enable you to be out by Christmas [2016] ... but that's up to the parole board," Judge Morris said.