The man who murdered Auckland dairy worker Janak Patel has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum non-parole period of 15 years.
Frederick Hobson, who pleaded guilty to murder, and Shane Tane, who pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery, were both sentenced in the High Court in Auckland this morning.
Hobson was sentenced to life imprisonment, with a non-parole period of 15 years, while Tane was sentenced to four years and six months' imprisonment.
A third man - Henry Ford - had already been granted a stay of proceedings due to being terminally ill.
Patel was stabbed to death while working at the Rose Cottage Superette in Sandringham, central Auckland in November 2022.
Victim 'simply doing his job' - police
Geoff Baber. Photo: RNZ / Blessen Tom
After the sentencing Detective Inspector Geoff Baber said Patel had only arrived in Auckland a short time before his killing.
He had been looking after the dairy for the owner.
"He was simply doing his job and should not have been subjected to the violent events that unfolded that night.
"While today's sentencing brings an end to court proceedings, Janak's family will live with his absence for the rest of their lives.
"No sentence will ever bring Janak home."
Police also acknowledged the wider Sandringham and retail communities.
"Janak's murder had a profound impact on the Sandringham community given the superette's place in the neighbourhood," Detective Inspector Baber said.
"This community also played an important role in assisting our investigation team in the days and weeks following this incident, and I would like to acknowledge this support."
He also praised the police's investigation team.
"The team worked thoroughly to piece together the facts surrounding Janak's death, with his killer in custody within days," he said.
Their work resulted in the three offenders being charged and made to "face the consequences of their violent actions".
An earlier court hearing was told Hobson planned to enter the superette, armed with a knife, to take cash and any other items he could manage.
At about 8pm, he wore a black bandana covering half of his face, and ran into the dairy.
He confronted Patel with the knife, causing him to flee into a back room.
Hobson took the cash register, as well as a box of butane lighters and vapes, before leaving the store.
Patel ran after him, armed with a hockey stick from the back of the shop.
Hobson put the cash register in a nearby recycling wheelie bin as Patel approached, and went towards him aggressively, as Patel retreated swinging the hockey stick.
Court documents revealed Hobson lunged at Patel and knocked him to the ground, stabbing him at least three times.
Hobson tried to wrestle the hockey stick from Patel's grasp, stabbing him a further three times.
"The final blow was to Mr Patel's neck, causing him to fall to the ground once again."
Patel used the wheelie bin in an attempt to get away from Hobson, but collapsed after taking five steps back towards the dairy.
Hobson collected the bin and left the scene.
Patel's death sparked protests by dairy owners over the safety of small businesses, while more than $100,000 was raised for his family.
Flowers and notes outside the Rose Cottage Supererette in Sandringham, 28 November, 2022. Photo: RNZ / Rowan Quinn
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