Two jailed for 2014 manslaughter of Ashburton man Arran 'AJ' Gairns

Olivia Toby Frances Lucas, 29, and Verdun Ashley Perry, have been jailed for the 2014 manslaughter of Ashburton man, AJ Gairns.

Two people found guilty of causing the 2014 death of Ashburton man Arran "AJ" Gairns by manslaughter have today each been jailed for three years and seven months.

Olivia Toby Frances Lucas, 29, and Verdun Ashley Perry, 26, both of Ashburton, were convicted of assaulting 34-year-old Gairns with intent to rob him on May 31, 2014 in Ashburton.

A jury of six men and six women subsequently found their actions resulted in his death.

Today, at the High Court in Christchurch Justice Gerald Nation sentenced both Lucas and Perry to three years, seven months imprisonment.

Defence submissions, the judge's sentencing remarks, and victim impact statements were all suppressed today.

Two other people were also charged with the same offences as Lucas and Perry.

One man who pleaded guilty had earlier been jailed for four years and eight months.

The trial of the fourth accused is due to take place later in the year and until a verdict is reached, strict suppression orders prevent the publication of any evidence presented during Lucas and Perry's trial.