Mum's life collapsed the day son slain

Sgt Don Wilkinson's mother, Beverley Lawrie, talks to media after her son's killer was sentenced. Photo / Richard Robinson

Beverley Lawrie used to think the death penalty was abhorrent.

But the fatal shooting of her police officer son has left her feeling vengeful, and at times wanting his killers dead.

Her son, undercover cop Don Wilkinson, was shot three times while trying to install a tracking device on a suspect's car on September 11, 2008.

He died at the scene.

Yesterday, his killer, 39-year-old John Ward Skinner, was sentenced to life in prison for murder, with a minimum non-parole period of 15 years.

Accomplice Iain Lindsay Clegg, 36, was jailed for eight years for manslaughter. He must serve a minimum of four years.

At the pair's sentencing in the High Court at Auckland, Mrs Lawrie described how "the bottom fell out of my life" the day her son was killed.

"When I heard it on the news - call it mother's intuition - I just knew it was Donny who died."

Mrs Lawrie holds Skinner and Clegg solely responsible for the death of her son, of whom she was "incredibly proud".

He had spent his life working in some "incredibly dangerous" situations in New Zealand and abroad, she said, but he decided to return home after a near-death experience in a war-torn country.

"The irony of the whole thing is he came back to New Zealand because he believed it would be a safer place to work," Mrs Lawrie said.

"The last place I expected him to be killed was New Zealand".

Few knew of his secret double life - one as a civilian, the other as a covert operative - but she was lucky to hear about his heroic acts.

"He shared both lives with me and I was privileged for that."

Mrs Lawrie, a 69-year-old schoolteacher, said it was difficult to comprehend Skinner's decision to kill herson.

He had been "executed" by men with no respect for human life.

"I've lost a son and the country's lost a good policeman."

Sundays will never longer be the same again for Mrs Lawrie. It was always the day when Mr Wilkinson would phone and say, "Hi Ma".

"I know that I will not let this beat me," Mrs Lawrie said. "Donny's loss has devastated me. My only child is dead. What I have left is memories."

Crown Solicitor Simon Moore, SC, said he was pleased that the sentence handed down to Skinner was within the recommended range. The shooting had been a "wholly disproportionate reaction", he said.

Justice Geoffrey Venning told Skinner and Clegg their belief that the two officers were intruders was no excuse for their actions.

"You acted deliberately to impose your own justice on these men. You hunted them down and attacked them in order to do so."

BODY ARMOUR CRITICISED

The stab-resistant body armour worn by police was criticised during the trial by a senior officer as unsafe, impractical and bulky.

Officer W, a colleague of Sergeant Don Wilkinson, said the undercover cop was not wearing a vest when he was fatally shot.

But Officer M - who was shot during the same attack - was wearing one and survived.

Officer W said he found the vests "virtually impossible to use in the environment we work in" and believed there were better options.

"It's very hot, it's very bulky and if you're trying to do covert duties it's very detectable.

"It's an issue for the police department and it's a shame to bring it out in this arena but it's something that has to be addressed."

Superintendent Kelvin Powell, acting national manager of operations, said the department "is committed to providing its staff with the best safety equipment possible in order to support them carrying out their respective roles in the safest manner possible".

Mr Powell said police monitored international developments in relation to the fit, style and comfort of safety garments that were provided.

He would not answer questions about the vest, but said police had overt and covert stab-resistant body armour. The stab-resistant panels that provide protection were designed to be interchangeable between the two different types.