By Adam Ray
Two teenage girls will spend at least 17 years in jail for killing an elderly man in his bed last year.
Courtney Churchward and Lori-lea Te Tini were sentenced today in the Rotorua High Court for the murder of John Rowe.
But the girls were described as victims too - because of the way their parents treated them.
Churchward was 17 and Te Wini 14 when they attacked 78-year-old Mr Rowe.
Justice Venning said the girl’s actions were savage.
“He (Mr Rowe) was looking forward to a long and peaceful retirement. Your actions brought that to a terrible end,” he said.
The terrible end came after the girls broke into Mr Rowe's home to rob him and then beat him to death.
Justice Venning said their violence justified a 17-year minimum parole period.
“He was frail weighing just 58kg and in ill health,” he said.
The judge stated that Churchward and Te Wini, who are first cousins, weren't the only ones blamed for the murder. The court heard how the pair suffered from lousy childhoods and mistreatment from their own family.
“Those responsible for you have failed in the most basic way to support you and keep you from influence that led to this,” he said.
Churchward was moved around by family members and abused by one relative. Te Wini left high school after just two weeks, spending her time sleeping or smoking marijuana.
The judge said both would learn more in jail than they had from their families.
“Your families and those who were supposedly caring for you need to look long and hard at themselves in relation to what happened,” he said.
Te Wini has been in care since she was arrested last year.
The court heard how Churchward was an intelligent and promising teenager who would have had a better life in different family circumstances.
The girl's families were in court to hear the judge's stinging words; they refused to talk as they left.
Mr Rowe's family agreed with the judge’s sentiment.
“The girls probably were victims from families but I think he dealt with it fairly,” says Patrick Rowe.
Churchward and Te Wini will have spent more than half their lives in jail by the time they are released, even one of their own lawyers saying he hoped they'd come out better off than they are now.
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