Val Heaney's murderer Elliot Ajay Prakash was sentenced in the High Court by Justice Cameron Mander. Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon
The man who bludgeoned a Christchurch woman to death with a hockey stick has been sentenced to life in prison.
Val Heaney, 64, was murdered in her Bromley home on 4 April 2022 when isolating with Covid-19.
Her boarder Elliot Ajay Prakash later pleaded guilty.
Justice Cameron Mander sentenced Prakash to life imprisonment with a minimum non-parole period of 13 years in the Christchurch High Court.
The sentence included a minimum non-parole period of 13 years.
Prakash had pleaded guilty after initially denying any wrongdoing.
The court heard how Prakash brutally took to his landlady with a hockey stick as she sat at her dining table at about 5pm on 4 April.
The pair had been watching a rugby game on television earlier that afternoon before a heated argument developed.
He struck Heaney in the head "at least eight times".
Val Heaney Photo: Supplied / Facebook
Prakash had been a tenant of Heaney's for 16 months, a period where the pair also engaged in a sexual relationship, the court heard.
Prior to her murder, Heaney had written a letter to Prakash, informing him he had a week to move out following "ongoing abuse and threats".
Prakash screwed the letter up after receiving it.
Heaney sat at the dining table as she wrote another letter outlining some of the threats he had made towards her, including one where he said: "I'll see you end up in the ground with your daughter."
Heaney's daughter died late last year, Justice Mander told the court.
Prakash left for work the next morning at about 6am and returned home at about 5pm.
He then called police and claimed he had arrived home to find blood and fingerprints on the door, but had not gone inside.
Police found Heaney dead inside the hallway of the house.
Victim's mother describes 'grief, sadness and loss'
Three victim impact statements from family members, who RNZ have agreed not to name, were read out in court.
A statement read on behalf of Heaney's 89-year-old mother told of the ill health she has suffered due to the devastating impact of her daughter's murder.
She said her final years will be defined by "grief, sadness and loss".
"Having to deal with my daughter's death in such a horrific way... the emotional harm is unexplainable."
Other family members also read statements.
"How could you do to that to my sister, you crossed a line. You [Prakash] do not deserve your freedom. We hope prison will be hard for you but you still have your life."
Her nephew told the court "vulnerable took on a new meaning".
"She fought you [Prakash]. What a brave lady."
Justice Mander told the court Prakash's subsequent actions showed a level of callousness.
"These include making no effort to seek medical assistance," he said.
"Leaving Ms Heaney in the hallway overnight and throughout the next day and your attempt to concoct a false story."
A joint family statement was issued following the sentencing.
"This has been an incredible tragedy for our family and we miss our much-loved sister, daughter and auntie," the statement said.
Detective inspector Nicola Reeves said Prakash had committed "a horrific and cowardly attack".
"I want to thank the investigation team, who worked tirelessly to hold this offender to account and bring this case to resolution as quickly as possible," she said.
"I also want to acknowledge Val's family who have showed incredible strength in these tragic circumstances.
"Val dedicated her life to the care of her daughter, Natasha and to improving the quality of life for those with intellectual disabilities. Her loss is one that will be felt across the wider community."