A sentence of life in prison with 20 years non-parole is not enough for the family of a 28-year-old woman brutally murdered by her boyfriend.
About 50 supporters of victim Aroha Kerehoma were at the High Court in Hamilton on Tuesday donning black t-shirts with "Justice for Aroha" written around a photo of her.
Dylyn Davis, 26, pleaded guilty to murdering her in the garage where they lived on Dominion Rd in Nawton.
She suffered extensive facial injuries and acute fractures to her skull, a pathologist report said.
Davis beat Ms Kerehoma after seeing text messages between her and her former partner where she said she did not feel safe around Davis.
Her last message was sent at 11:58pm on February 3 this year, the court heard.
She died the following day.
She was a budding Māori fashion designer, her mother Luana said in a witness statement, read by her sister Judi Waugh on her behalf.
"My whole world came crashing down around me," she said.
"I now know what evil is."
Newshub.
