Lia Bezett, sister of murdered man Brent Bacon, speaks outside court after the sentencing of John Collins.
John Collins killed his friend and father-of-three Brent Bacon with a cricket bat, and later dumped his body off a rural road. The 39-year-old appeared for sentencing before Justice Jan-Marie Doogue in the High Court of Dunedin on Friday. He will serve at least 17 years in jail.
That followed a six-day trial, in which jurors later unanimously convicted Collins, who had earlier pleaded guilty to improperly interfering with the body and unlawfully taking a motor vehicle, of murder. During the trial the Crown argued Bacon was murdered at a Lock St home, which Collins shared with his wife, Aleisha Dawson, on the night of February 4, 2019.
Brutal cricket bat murderer avoids life without parole
7 May, 2021 12:09 AM
2 minutes to read
John Kenneth Collins. Photo / Otago Daily Times
Otago Daily Times
By: Rob Kidd
A man who beat his friend to death with a cricket bat and dumped his body out of town has avoided a sentence of life imprisonment without parole.
The murder of 45-year-old Brent Andrew Bacon on February 4, 2019, represented John Kenneth Collins second strike under the three-strikes legislation (his first came for indecent assault in 2016) but Justice Jan-Marie Doogue, before the High Court at Dunedin today, ruled a whole-of-life term would be grossly disproportionate.
The 39-year-old was jailed for life with a minimum non-parole period of 17 years.
Dunedin cricket bat killing: Brutal murder of friend brings life in prison
7 May, 2021 07:58 PM
4 minutes to read
Mr Bacon’s sister his only sibling Lia Bezett spoke of the pain of her loss. Video / ODT
Mr Bacon’s sister his only sibling Lia Bezett spoke of the pain of her loss. Video / ODT
Otago Daily Times
By: Rob Kidd
A life sentence for the man who beat her brother to death with a cricket bat will never heal his family s wounds, his sister says.
The murder of 45-year-old Brent Andrew Bacon on February 4, 2019, represented John Kenneth Collins second strike under the three-strikes legislation (his first came for indecent assault in 2016).
Sam Sherwood08:49, May 05 2021
Mark Cowling was allegedly murdered at his Edgeware property. A man who allegedly murdered his neighbour after making a noise complaint can now be named. Mark Cowling, 44, was found with serious injuries at a property in Edgeware, at the intersection of Gresford and Champion streets, in the early hours of September 6. Court paperwork said Cowling was stabbed.
Stuff
Police examine an area in the Christchurch suburb of Edgeware after Mark Cowling died in September. The man accused of his murder, Tristan Ross Locke, can now be named after he abandoned an appeal against Justice Jan-Marie Doogue’s decision for suppression to lapse.
Helen Harvey05:30, May 05 2021
Simon O Connor/Stuff
Wayne O Keeffe has been hit with court costs after two failed legal challenges against Taranaki Cathedral’s redevelopment. (File photo)
A New Plymouth man who lost legal challenge against the redevelopment of New Plymouth s cathedral has been ordered to pay $21,000 in legal costs. Wayne O’Keeffe instigated a High Court judicial review last year arguing that the New Plymouth District Council s (NPDC) decision to grant the $15million Taranaki Cathedral Church of St Mary redevelopment project a resource consent without notifying neighbours was unlawful.
ANDREW OWEN/STUFF
121-year-old New Plymouth Cathedral vicarage on the move.