NZ man jailed for strangling girlfriend

File photo / NZ Herald

A New Zealander has been sentenced in Australia to 22 years in jail for the bizarre strangulation of his girlfriend, and has indicated he wants to return home after he is released.

The Victorian Supreme Court heard Michael Wilson, 52, strangled Carol Neeve, 48, at her Melbourne home in 2009, and then tried to cover up the crime, the ABC reported.

In sentencing, Justice Betty King described the "sad and senseless" killing as "bizarre, pointless and unprovoked".

Wilson, a New Zealander who lived in a caravan near the Westgate Bridge, was earlier found guilty by a jury.

He will be eligible for parole in 18 years, and told the court that he will return to his family in New Zealand when he is released.

Justice King said the couple had an "on/off" relationship and Wilson had stayed over with Ms Neeve a few nights a week, Melbourne's Herald Sun newspaper reported.

In his evidence at his trial, the judge said Wilson told the jury that he and Ms Neeve had argued in bed. He then grabbed her around the neck from behind.

"You indicated that your hands could have been around her neck but you were not sure," Justice King said.

"You said she stopped talking immediately and that you held her like that for some minutes.

"You said you kept your arms and hands in that position because you were really trying to cuddle her as well.

"You said when you let her go you did not realise she had died and you just went back to sleep."

In the morning, the court heard that Wilson had got up.

Witnesses said they heard him moving around the house singing country and western songs.

After Ms Neeve's body was discovered and after an ambulance was called, Wilson got back into bed and stroked her forehead saying: "She's just not well".

Yesterday, Justice King sentenced Wilson to 22 years in jail with an 18-year minimum.

"It was a pointless, unprovoked, dreadful murder of a woman who was doing no more than enjoying her life," she said.

- NZPA, staff reporter