Reparation from killer not enough - wife's family

Greg Mead in the Hamilton High Court for sentencing today after being found guilty of murdering his wife Helen Meads, inset. Photos / NZPA, Supplied

Text messages Matamata horse breeder Greg Meads unloaded from his wife Helen's cellphone led him to believe she intended to be difficult about their separation, his murder trial was told today.

Soon after, he took a loaded shotgun to their stables, where she was talking on her phone, waited for her to end the call then confronted her and shot her in the throat. She died instantly.

Justice Christopher Allan outlined this sequence of events from September 2009 in the High Court at Hamilton before sentencing Meads today to life imprisonment, with a minimum non-parole period of 11 years.

In addition, he ordered Meads to make $65,000 reparation. Four separate amounts of $15,000 are to be paid to his 10-year-old daughter Samantha, Kimberley White, who is Mrs Meads' daughter from a previous relationship, and Mrs Meads' parents.

A further $5000 is to be paid to Mrs Meads' sister, Robyn, who had also been affected by the killing, the judge said. He gave Meads until December 16 to pay the money.

A jury found Meads guilty in October of murdering his wife.

Justice Allan said Mrs Meads' decision to leave him had come as a "bolt from the blue" for her husband, although in 2008 he had assaulted her, wrongly believing she was in a relationship with another man.

Speaking through tears and wearing the white lapel ribbon signifying the national stand against domestic violence, Mrs Meads' father, David White, read an emotional victim impact statement to the court.

He told of the huge strain the loss of his daughter had placed on him and his wife, both emotionally and financially. Holding granddaughter Kimberley's hand tightly, he said he had sung What A Wonderful World the day his daughter was born. It had been only fitting it was played at her funeral.

She had turned her parents' lives into fun-filled adventures, always with a smile on her face. She had cared passionately for humans and animals. Mr White said as grandparents they now were bringing up their granddaughters at a huge financial cost. Although Meads had initially made a contribution, this was reduced to the minimum liable parent contribution of $15 a week.

Gulping back tears as she read her victim impact statement, Kimberley frequently turned to Meads as he stood impassively in the dock, accusing him of having no regrets for killing her mother.

"For 17 years when I talked to my Mum I looked at her face, now I talk to her headstone ... she is a rock in the ground," the Massey University student said.

"When you shot her, you shot her without hesitation, you wanted to kill Mum. I will never understand how you can shoot someone you are supposed to love."

She told of the nightmares she continued to experience and how they were affecting her grades.

"This is not something an 18-year-old girl should have to go through," she said.

She talked passionately about the effect the loss of her mother had had on her younger sister, accusing Meads of showing no remorse.

Crown prosecutor Ross Douch submitted a 17-year non-parole period should be imposed. The murder had clearly been premeditated and when talking to a probation officer Meads continued to deny his guilt.

Defence counsel Murray McKechnie said Meads had lost and ruined everything that was dear to him. He had a genuine sense of remorse.

During an interview with police he had been physically ill, "indicating his genuine distress". At the stables something had occurred that caused Meads to snap.

Outside the court, Mr White decried the restitution imposed, claiming the amount should have been $1 million which Meads, who he claimed was sitting on a $40 million fortune, could well afford.

The $30,000 he and his wife, Pam, were getting in reparation was not enough, considering they would have to bring up Samantha for the next 10 years. "How far do you think that will go," he asked reporters.

He said the 11-year non-parole term was not enough.

"Life is cheap," he said.

He claimed Meads had dominated and controlled his daughter since before their marriage. "But love is blind".

- NZPA