Pensioners' killer to spend at least 20 years behind bars

David Konia

The man who stabbed to death two Feilding pensioners was today sentenced to a minimum of 20 years imprisonment.

David Konia, stabbed the two elderly friends to death when they failed to buy him a drink.

Konia, 53, was convicted in the High Court at Palmerston North last month of murdering Margaret Waldin, 76, and Ted Ferguson, 73.

They were killed at Mr Ferguson's pensioner flat in the Manawatu town of Feilding a year earlier.

Konia was jailed for life, with a minimum non-parole period of 20 years.

The Crown had argued Konia was broke and bitter at not being shouted a drink at the Manchester Tavern. He had bought a bottle of wine for Mrs Waldin a few weeks earlier when he won $300 on the pokies.

Crown prosecutor Tim Brewer said Konia followed Mrs Waldin back to the flat of her close friend Mr Ferguson, where he stabbed her repeatedly before attacking Mr Ferguson.

Konia's motive was money as he emptied Mrs Waldin's purse and wallet. But he also engaged in some "sexual curiosity", interfering with her clothes, Mr Brewer said.

Defence counsel Fergus Steedman argued Konia would have had to be a "criminal mastermind" -- which he was not -- to have committed the crimes.

- NZPA