Armed with a machete, Vea walked to Laulimu Liuasi's home on the grounds of Ōtara church St John the Evangelist in south Auckland. READ MORE:* Machete church murderer appeals jail sentence* Machete church murder: 'You have broken this family' - Judge* Machete murder after accusations of affair* Man in court over alleged murder in Ōtara, south AucklandHe admitted murder and in July last year, Justice Simon Moore sentenced him to life imprisonment and ordered him to serve at least 17 years in jail. His lawyer Lila Tu'i said while her client's offending was brutal, it fell below section 104e of the Sentencing Act 2002 that Justice Moore relied on. She said Justice Moore was "manifestly unjust" when he gave inadequate discounts for Vea's early guilty plea and cultural reasons. "He begged for his life in Samoan but you showed him no mercy," Justice Moore said at sentencing.

Source: Stuff March 18, 2020 22:52 UTC