Prosecutor seeks to appeal Liberty killer's sentence

Teenager Hermanus Theodorus Kriel was just 14 when he killed Liberty Rose Templeman (pictured). Photo / Supplied

The Solicitor General is considering a request from Whangarei's crown prosecutor to appeal the 11-1/2-year sentence meted out to the teen who murdered schoolgirl Liberty Templeman.

The Northern Advocate reported Crown prosecutor Mike Smith had written to the Solicitor-General asking that he appeal Hermanus Theodorus [Theo] Kriel's sentence.

Kriel in 2008 beat Liberty, 15, unconscious, strangled her and then dragged her body into the Wairoa Stream at Kerikeri, leaving her drown.

Kriel, 14 at the time of the killing and now 16, showed no emotion when sentenced by Justice Raynor Asher in the High Court at Whangarei last month for what Justice Raynor Asher described as a "brutal, cruel and callous" crime.

Liberty's parents labelled the sentence "farcical" and said he should serve at least 30 years and then be deported to his South African homeland.

Crown Law Office spokeswoman Jan Fulstow confirmed to the newspaper that Mr Smith's request had been received. A decision on an appeal would be made in about a week.

The Solicitor-General usually appeals sentences it considers manifestly inadequate.

Mr Smith had argued for a minimum jail term of 17 years before parole, but defence counsel Catherine Cull said that was too long.

Mr Smith would not comment today.

- NZPA