A heartbroken Trinette Wilton read out her victim statement impact during the sentencing of Samuel Moses Samson (33) in the High Court at Invercargill yesterday.
Samson was found guilty in March of murdering 22-year-old Azalia Wilson in a "jealous rage" on November 17, 2019, at a motel in Invercargill.
Justine Gerald Nation sentenced Samson to life in prison with a minimum non-parole period of 17 years.
Samson and the victim had a baby girl together, Kiara, who was born in July 2019.
She is now being raised by Ms Wilson’s family.
Mrs Wilton told the court she thought about taking the girl to court yesterday so Samson could feel the pain he caused his own daughter, but he did not "deserve even to see her".
"You slaughter Kiara’s mother. You slaughter my child. She [Azalia] never ever had a chance with you.
"You robbed Kiara of any chance of knowing her mother."
Mrs Wilton said part of her died when her daughter was murdered.
"I only hope the justice system never allows you to hurt or abuse any other woman, that you never get the chance to destroy another family," she said.
Ms Wilson’s younger sister, Crystal Wilton, said she had nightmares of Samson killing her sister in front of her "sweet baby niece".
Samson’s actions affected her family in ways she could not describe.
"I lost my sister because you murdered her but I also lost a mother, a father, a brother and most importantly myself ...
"I will never fear you, because I’m so much stronger than you are, Mr Samson."
Samson was distraught during Ms Wilson’s family’s statements — he avoided looking at the family, looking straight ahead the whole time.
This was one of the only moments he showed remorse and emotion during the whole process, Justice Nation said.
Both the Crown and the defence agreed life imprisonment was the only outcome, but argued about the minimum period of imprisonment.
Judith Ablett-Kerr QC submitted on behalf of Samson that he should have a discount because of the hardships he had faced in his life.
She told the court Samson was beaten when he was 10 months old, and at age 4, he saw a family member being seriously assaulted.
He had a troubled life and had been in more than 30 foster homes during his childhood, where he had been sexually and physically abused.
She said those experiences had an impact on his life.
Adults were to a large part the product of their nurture, she said.
However, Justice Nation said the violence used in the offending was premeditated and Samson’s controlling and jealous behaviour was noted in evidence during the trial.
He considered Samson’s statements to several people about his love for Ms Wilson dishonest.
"A person who genuinely loves the mother of their child would not have been as controlling, possessive and threatening as you were in your relationship with her."
