A man found guilty of raping and murdering his ex-girlfriend before setting her and her house on fire has been sentenced to life in prison.
Steven Ellis, 29, was found guilty by a jury at the High Court in Auckland on November 1 of raping and murdering 43-year-old Jacqueline Blackbourn, who died on June 26, 2010.
He has been handed a minimum non-parole period of 19 years at the same court today.
Ellis had previously admitted a charge of arson for setting a fire under Ms Blackbourn's bed in what he described as a suicide attempt.
Ellis' version of events was rejected by the jury. He said the sex was consensual and that Ms Blackbourn was accidentally stabbed when she came at him with a knife.
The Crown said Ellis could not accept that a two-year relationship with Ms Blackbourn had ended, especially once she started a new relationship.
Ellis had in fact taken a knife from his kitchen drawer, driving to Ms Blackbourn’s Glenfield home where he grabbed her by the throat and raped her on her bed before stabbing her twice.
The trial showed Ellis was obsessed with Ms Blackborn, kissing a picture of her on his phone, morning and night.
Crown prosecutor Steve Haszard said in court today that Ellis’ actions were similar to Clayton Weatherston’s murder of Sophie Elliott.
3 News