This afternoon Sandy Graham was told by Justice Gerald Nation the killing and cover-up was callous and merciless.
The murder was a subject of a three-week jury trial at the High Court in Invercargill beginning in June this year.
During the trial, evidence included how Mr Watene died of a fatal shotgun wound that travelled through his mouth and became embedded in his spinal cord.
He died instantly.
But it was after his death the myriad tales told were also revealed during the trial.
Graham’s cover-up included telling one of her children Mr Watene was playing dead on the night in question, getting Hyde over to help first hide, then dispose, of Mr Watene’s body, pointing the finger at other possible suspects, digging a grave for Mr Watene with Hyde while her children played nearby and sending messages to Mr Watene’s mother Christine, saying she would let her know if she heard anything about Mr Watene’s disappearance.
It was a month later that police found Mr Watene’s body buried in a shallow grave in the Longwood Forest, covered in rubble that came from Hyde’s house.
The cover-up, she said in evidence, was because she was scared she would lose her children to Oranga Tamariki.
Today in sentencing, Justice Nation said Graham’s killing of Mr Watene was an irrational act of violence “while you were in a rage”.
There was an element of pre-meditation as the rifle was loaded and was in a location she could easily reach behind her bedroom door.
“I can’t however be sure that when you did that (grabbed the rifle) that you knew or planned that you were going to shoot him.”
“The choice to shoot him may have been made in the confrontation you had, but the shooting was deliberate.”
Justice Nation told Hyde the police search for Mr Watene had been difficult.
"With the place and nature you had buried him, his body might never well have been discovered.
“There was serious harm to his family and friends in the way your actions left them for weeks not knowing exactly what had happened to him.”
Justice Nation said Hyde was manipulated and used by Graham but despite his cognitive difficulties he still knew what he did would prevent police from finding Mr Watene’s body.
“You chose to help Ms Graham as you did.”
In a statement this evening, Detective Inspector Stuart Harvey said he wanted to acknowledge the "immense impact" this tragedy has had on Mr Watene's family.
"Nothing will ease the pain of what has occurred, but it is my hope that today’s sentencing will bring some level of comfort to his loved ones."
The family of Dale Watene issued the following statement:
"We would like to express our thanks to Southland Police in regards to the investigation into the disappearance and death of Dale.
"The fact that Dale was able to be located and returned to us was incredibly important to our family.
"We would also like to thank the investigation team and the Invercargill Crown Solicitors for all the work that went into the trial and conviction.
"The support and assistance given to our family by the Police has made this difficult time much easier.
"The sentencing today has brought some closure to our family for the loss of Dale."
- Karen Pasco, PIJF court reporter/additional reporting ODT Online
