Father of murdered Invercargill woman Verity McLean has spoken of his enduring disbelief the man responsible, husband Ben McLean, who he'd known for 23 years, was capable of such an act.
Speaking outside Invercargill High Court this morning after policeman McLean was sentenced to life in prison for the murder, Verity's father Bob Barber expressed a still visibly raw anger.
"I cannot comprehend how he could take Verity from us in such a cowardly, callous and brutal way," Mr Barber said.
"I said at Verity's funeral that it was not a day for anger, blame of finger pointing, but a time for reconciliation, forgivness and compassion.
"Ben has shown none of these attributes when he murdered Verity and I'm having great difficulty living up to them myself as we continue to deal with this tragedy."
Garry Duggan who lost his partner Verity (Bert) McLean after the Anzac Day shooting said "Bert was a loving, kind, compassionate woman".
Reading from a prepared statement, Mr Barber could barley hold back his tears as he spoke of the impact the crime was still having on 40 members of his family.
"He said he had lost the love of his life in court. He didn't lose her, he executed her. His only regret has been getting caught and not finishing out what he set out to do."
Justice Rachel Dunningham sentenced McLean in the High Court in Invercargill this morning to a life sentence of 17 years for the murder of Mrs McLean, and seven years for the attempted murder of Garry Duggan.
McLean, who had broken down while reading an apology to the court this morning, stood quietly as the sentence was handed down.
He had pleaded guilty in the same court last Thursday.
McLean was sentenced to 17 years for murdering his wife Verity and sentenced to seven years for the attempted murder of Garry Dugan.
McLean shot his wife of 20 years, 40-year-old Mrs McLean, in the head with a sawn off .22 rifle on Anzac Day this year in the Invercargill suburb of Newfield.
He later shot Mr Duggan twice, hitting him in the upper chest and the forearm.
The two struggled and Mr Duggan wrestled the rifle from McLean.
McLean handed himself into the Invercargill police station, where he worked, 40 minutes after the shooting.
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