Watch: The moment judge sentences former cop Ben McLean to life in prison for murder of his wife

McLean was sentenced to 17 years for murdering his wife Verity and sentenced to seven years for the attempted murder of Garry Dugan.

Former Invercargill policeman Ben McLean has been sentenced to life imprisonment after pleading guilty to murdering his wife and the attempted murder of Garry Duggan.

Ben McLean will serve at least 17 years in jail for killing Verity McLean and trying to kill her lover Garry Duggan.

Justice Rachel Dunningham sentenced McLean in the High Court in Invercargill this morning to a life sentence of 17 years for the murder of Verity McLean, and 7 years for the attempted murder of Duggan.

Lisa Barber's statement was read out on her behalf in which she said "I loved her … I’d give anything to see her again".

McLean, who had broken down during 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 shot his wife of 20 years, 40-year-old Verity 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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