WARNING: This article contains graphic information and may be distressing to some people.
The mother of a two-year-old girl murdered in Little Waihi says the toddler was 'her pride and joy who she was with 24/7”.
She left Nevaeh Ager in the care of her father, Aaron Izett, to give birth to the couple's son.
Alison Ager says this was the last time she saw her daughter alive.
During sentencing in Tauranga High Court today, Justice Christine Gordon says Izett caused harm 'at the highest level”.
'She was supposed to be safe with you but instead she suffered greatly at your hands.”
On March 17, 2019, Izett's then partner Alison Ager went into labour with their second child and she was taken to hospital, leaving Izett to care for their two-year-old daughter.
On March 20, 2019, Nevaeh's grandparents, John and Nicki Sturgess, stopped by to drop some things off to Izett.
'I could tell something was wrong, the house was a mess,” Nicki said in her victim impact statement in court today.
During her summing up, Justice Gordon told the court that Izett punched John when they tried to take Nevaeh.
'Izett then inflicted multiple external injuries to Nevaeh, with an estimated 10-20 separate blows to the head, neck, stomach, legs and buttocks. He used two different weapons on her buttocks,” says Justice Gordon.
'She also received a torn ligament in her neck, akin to a person in a car accident. The pathologist at the time said it was a ‘tough one' and ‘difficult to tear.'”
The court heard that while she was unconscious, Izett put her in the estuary and weighed her down with two rocks weighing a combined 80kgs, near a pole he had erected earlier.
This caused further internal damage and damage to her liver. Her official cause of death was drowning.
The next morning, police were called when Izett was found naked running around the property.
Officers attempted to taser him but he ran to the estuary, where police then spotted Nevaeh's foot above the waterline.
Police attempted to restrain Izett but he bit an officer. He was finally restrained after the use of pepper spray.
During today's sentencing, Nevaeh's family read out victim impact statements, with her mother saying the last time she saw Nevaeh was the day she gave birth to her son.
She says Izett was the one who wanted a second baby, and Nevaeh was her pride and joy who she was with 24/7.
'Murdering her and putting her in the water with rocks on her back is not the man I loved. You murdered the love of my life.
'The man that was meant to give her unconditional love murdered her.”
Nevaeh's grandfather says he struggles to find any forgiveness.
'It's unbelievable that anybody could carry out such a deliberate and brutal act. The lacerations on her face and neck clearly indicate the struggle of her last gasps of breath.”
He said their family was deeply shattered and deeply distressed, as the attack was committed by a father she had 'every right to have faith in”.
Izett had attempted to use the defense of insanity, however, this was rejected by Justice Gordon.
'His own psychiatrist says on the balance of probabilities he is not insane.”
Justice Gordon said there was no evidence of mental disease prior to the event.
The defense counsel described his upbringing as 'extremely traumatic and disadvantageous”.
He says his mental state at the time of offending related back to his childhood, and due to his methamphetamine use he was suffering a 'form of psychosis on that day”.
Izett claims he was forced to consume methamphetamine to repay gang debts, but a previous jury found the methamphetamine had been consumed voluntarily.
Justice Gordon says although methamphetamine use can bring about psychotic-like symptoms, he was not in fact psychotic.
Izett was also found guilty of one count of injuries with intent to injure and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
Justice Gordon says the aggravating facts in the sentencing were the use of violence, the extent of the harm, the cruelty of the offending, the abuse of authority, and Nevaeh's vulnerability.
She says the case had a 'high level of brutality and callousness”.
'The cruelty is plainly evident in the facts. You abused trust in the most serious way.”
She says Izett had attempted to deflect responsibility for the killing to his drug use and mental state.
Izett will serve all three charges concurrently, and be eligible for parole in 2038.
If you feel affected by this article free call:
Lifeline (open 24/7) - 0800 543 354
Depression Helpline (open 24/7) - 0800 111 757
Samaritans (open 24/7) - 0800 726 666
Youthline (open 24/7) - 0800 376 633. You can also text 234 for free between 8am and midnight, or email [email protected]
0 comments
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to make a comment.