26/03/2009

New Zealand Teen Jailed For Tourist Murder

A New Zealand teenager has been sentenced to life in prison for killing a Scottish tourist last year.

Jahche Broughton, 15, will spend at least 12 years in jail after confessing to beating 27-year-old Karen Aim to death in the resort town of Taupo on 17 January 2008.

Ms Aim died in hospital shortly after the attack in the North Island resort. She was found by police called to investigate a vandalism spree at Taupo Nui a Tia College.

A post mortem examination revealed she died of head injuries inflicted with a baseball bat which was later found at the 15-year-old's house.

Broughton was told by the High Court at Rotorua he would serve a minimum of twelve-and-a-half years before he can apply for parole.

He was also sentenced to six years to run concurrently for injuring a 17-year-old woman with intent to cause her grievous bodily harm, in a separate incident which took place two weeks before Ms Aim's murder.

Broughton, who was 14 when he carried out the murder, was committed for trial following a hearing at Taupo Youth Court last September.

Ms Aim's parents, Brian and Peggy, from Holm in Orkney, travelled to New Zealand in February for proceedings against Broughton.

After the teenager pleaded guilty, Mr Aim responded: "I would have been so proud to take Karen down the isle in her wedding dress.

"Instead I took her down the isle in her coffin.

"Jahche will never know how much he was taken from us in one moment's madness."

He added: "He has taken away Karen's life. He has also destroyed his own life. Anger, revenge, would only destroy my own life and I do still feel sorry for him."

Ms Aim had lived in New Zealand for three months in 2006 and had returned to work in the gallery and café of a glass-blowing factory in Taupo.

(JM/BMcC)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

24 January 2008
New Zealand Teen Arrested In Backpacker Case
Police investigating the murder of Scottish backpacker Karen Aim in New Zealand have arrested a 14-year-old boy. However, police have held a news conference to stress that they were not making a connection between the teenager's arrest and Ms Aim's death at this stage.
18 June 2015
Business Secretary Announces New Apprenticeship Scheme
The Government is to introduce a new apprenticeship scheme in association with the UK's fastest-growing companies. The new scheme will place apprentices in small and medium companies quoted on AIM, London Stock Exchange’s (LSE) growth market for ambitious small and medium businesses.
02 February 2011
New Fund To Tackle Gang Crime
The Home Office is to commit £18m of funding to support police, local agencies and the voluntary sector to tackle knife, gun and gang-related violence. The new fund will also aim to prevent young people entering a cycle of crime. The move follows a report from ex-EastEnders star Brooke Kinsella, whose brother Ben was stabbed to death in 2008.
21 January 2005
Database launched to trap cheating motorists
A national database has been launched to help insurance companies catch motorists who make fraudulent motor insurance claims. The database, which is being run by vehicle information experts HPI, will contain details of all vehicles written-off following an accident, as well as those reported as stolen.
26 October 2011
Tibetan Monk Sets Himself On Fire In China
Another Tibetan Buddhist monk has set himself ablaze in western China, over the continued efforts for Tibet to be free of Chinese rule. The self-immolation is the tenth such extreme protest by Buddhist monks in the region to take place this year over the cultural encroachment of China into Tibet and claims of sectarianism.