Man jailed at least 11 years for fatal beating

A Northland man who brutally bashed another man to death after a petty argument will spend at least 11 year and three months in jail for murder.

Rota John Kohi Ranapia, 31, was today sentenced to life imprisonment in the High Court at Whangarei after he earlier pleaded guilty to the murder of Stephen Rundlett, 38.

Justice Lynton Stevens imposed a minimum non-parole period of 11 years and three months.

The murder happened after an argument at a farmhouse Ranapia occupied in Tauraroa, 24km southwest of Whangarei, on September 8 last year.

The court had been told Mr Rundlett had cuts to his head, a broken neck, bruising to his face and body and some bleeding to the brain.

He was also clutching handfuls of his own hair from holding on to his head to protect himself and cover his face.

Ranapia viciously beat Mr Rundlett to death just hours after meeting him.

During the drinking session at Ranapia's farmhouse an argument developed between Ranapia and Mr Rundlett about midnight while the former's partner and daughter were watching television in a bedroom.

Mr Rundlett fell to the ground and Ranapia got on top of him and started punching him with both fists to the head and face.

Ranapia's partner tried to drag him away, but was ordered to go back to her room.

Mr Rundlett lay motionless on the kitchen floor with Ranapia standing over him, covered in blood.

Ranapia then picked him up, dragged him to the doorway and started punching and kicking him again.

- NZPA