The brutal murder of Australian surfer Sean McKinnon has been described as a 'true horror story' by his fiancée.
Mark Garson has been sentenced to life in prison after fatally shooting 32-year-old McKinnon while he holidayed with his fiancée Bianca Buckley in Raglan in August 2019.
The couple had been sleeping in their rented campervan in Raglan when they were woken by Garson who was banging on the window.
Garson, who was high on meth, had been left in the Waikato town after a friend refused to help him commit suicide.
"You told them you'd been left and needed a ride. McKinnon offered you a cellphone, but then you became aggressive when he didn't offer you a ride," Justice Gordon said.
"You smashed a side window and then fired a shot into it. It hit McKinnon in the mid-right side of the abdomen."
McKinnon died from shots to his head and torso.
During the sentencing on Wednesday Garson wiped away tears in the dock as six victim impact statements were read.
Buckley sobbed as she spoke of his final moments, and how after begging for her own life she never got the chance to say goodbye.
"I begged for mercy... for which you responded… 'yeah bitch he's dead'," she told the court.
"I'm never going to forget you said that."
Buckley was able to escape the campervan and ran in the dark to the nearest house to raise the alarm, while Garson dumped the campervan in Gordonton near Hamilton.
She described the night as a true horror story, believing Garson may return to kill her.
McKinnon's sister Emmeline also spoke during the sentencing, calling Garson a "person of violence" who "puts his needs above others".
"You have come into my life and killed my brother and stolen his life," she told him.
"I would have given anything to have been there and fought for him, to have held him and kissed his face and tell him I loved him."
She told Garson Mark would have helped him if he asked, but "I wouldn't have".
"I would have taken that gun and pointed it at you."
Garson was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum non-parole period of 15 years and six months, which Emmeline said was appropriate.
"I do feel it is a good sentence... the judge put it very clearly, so I feel happy with that."
McKinnon's sisters are now heading back to Australia with the memory of the man they call their "beautiful brother".
