An 18-year-old has been sentenced for fatally stabbing another teenager at a party in 2021 after an emotionally-charged Christchurch High Court hearing.
Khanye Te Heu Heu had pleaded guilty to manslaughter and two counts of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
The stabbing happened on the night of August 13, 2021, at a party at an Airbnb in the suburb of Fendalton.
Te Heu Heu fatally stabbed Zion Purukamu and went on to stab two other teenagers who were hospitalised with injuries. Te Heu Heu was initially charged with murder and two counts of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, but the charge was downgraded to manslaughter.
In court on Tuesday, Justice Rachel Dunningham jailed Te Heu Heu for five years and six months.
Emotional victim impact statements from Zion's family told of how the 16-year-old was "the best son in the world" and of the "unbearable pain" since his death.
"He loved his family and friends and always made sure everyone was okay. He would always bring friends to stay at our home. All he wanted to do was get a job, save a deposit for a home, then he would think about marriage," Zion's mum said.
"You gave me a life sentence of heartbreak and pain. He was a baby and you took him from me. I relive August 13, 2021, every day, you took a piece of me I will never get back," she told Te Heu Heu.
In handing down her sentence, Justice Dunningham said she wanted to hold Te Heu Heu accountable for his actions.
"I cannot be satisfied you've displayed genuine remorse," the judge said.
