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Bram Willems died in January 2021, between Ōpua and Paihia in the Bay of Islands in Northland.
A 15-year-old has been sentenced to life imprisonment for Bram Willems death stabbing near Paihia in January 2021.
The teen, who is currently under name suppression, was found guilty of murder after a two-week jury trial in the Supreme Court in Whangārei late last year.
The jury heard how Willems, 22, turned his life around before his death, where was he? Stabbed 13 times by the then 14-year-old.
On Friday, Judge Timothy Brewer said life imprisonment was appropriate in this case, despite the boy’s age.
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He also imposed the minimum non-parole period of 10 years.
Earlier on Friday, Willems’ mother Christy Lacroix told the court that her son’s murder was the worst that could happen and has changed the lives of her and her family.
David White/Things
Justice Timothy Brewer decided that the adult sentence for murder — life imprisonment — would apply to the teen. (File photo)
“You took a life worth living, a life I fought for for 22 years. There are no excuses that justify taking a life,” she told the 15-year-old.
“The pain and trauma you inflicted on us hurts more than you can imagine. There are no words to express the pain and sorrow we feel every day,” Lacroix said.
“We live in constant fear that something will happen to one of us. We have learned through your actions that nothing is safe, everything is vulnerable and can be taken away in an instant.”
Lacroix said Willems just wanted friendship, love and acceptance, but was eventually betrayed and died alone.
A statement was also read from Willems’ older brother, Rob, about the pain of watching his mother and father go through their grief.
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Ron Mansfield told the court in November that the teen acted in self-defense.
Bram Willems will never experience the finer things in life, such as finding true love, having a child, pursuing his ambitions and taking care of loved ones, his brother said.
Outlining the facts of the case, Justice Brewer said the teen killed Willems with a knife he had made a habit of carrying.
The couple had spent the afternoon with the teen’s three cousins, buying alcohol and cannabis from Willems.
A lengthy argument arose after Willems acted inappropriately towards the teenager’s niece, the judge said.
The teenager attacked Willems – fueled by anger and drunkenness – stabbing him seven times in the chest and abdomen, and six more times in the lower back and buttocks after falling to the ground.
Justice Brewer said youth is not an uncommon feature of serious violent crime and carries little weight against the public interest.
The 15-year-old was criminally responsible for the killing of Willems and it had not been proven that the statutory prison sentence for murder was manifestly unjust.
Outside the court, the teen’s attorney, Ron Mansfield, indicated he would appeal both the verdict and the conviction.
The court also does not rule on whether permanent name abolition should apply.