The 30-year-old Tauranga man involved in a series of events which saw a man kidnapped and a teenager killed during a night in April is on his way to prison for three years and four months.

Thomas McDonald pleaded guilty to charges of kidnapping, injuring with intent to injure, aggravated robbery and two counts of unlawfully getting into a motor vehicle when he appeared in Tauranga District Court today.

Thomas McDonald (left) has admitted his role in a series of events on April 2. His co-accused, Cheyanne McCausland (right) is maintaining her not guilty plea.

Judge Thomas Ingram took a number of factors into account when sentencing McDonald, including his guilty plea, remorse and the fact he has facilitated a quick court process.

McDonald was arrested along with co-accused Cheyanne McCausland, 23, after being found on a trampoline in an Auckland property on April 2.

During sentencing today, the court heard how McDonald took a car from the Tauranga Hospital car park, allegedly with McCausland, and drove to Rotorua, picking up 18-year-old Jovaan Graham along the way.

After visiting family in Rotorua, the trio travelled back to Tauranga via the Kaimais when the stolen vehicle broke down near Belk Road.

All three got out of the vehicle and while McDonald and McCausland were looking in the other direction, Jovaan stepped out onto the highway and was fatally struck by a passing Toyota Prado.

The court also heard how when the driver of the Toyota went to check on Jovaan, McDonald proceeded to punch him nine or 10 times in the head, before making him get into the back of the Toyota and driving off with McCausland in the passenger seat.

The man managed to escape and hide in scrub on Poripori Road when McDonald stopped the vehicle to tend to something wrong with it.

In court today, defence lawyer Glenn Dixon says his client then drove back to the crash scene, put Jovaan's body in the Toyota and drove over the Kaimais to Matamata.

'He knew there was a hospital there and so decided to lay Jovaan's body at the entrance.

'He was heavily intoxicated and grief stricken at what had happened and drove aimlessly north until they got to Auckland.”

Glenn says both McDonald and McCausland left the Toyota on the side of the road after it ran out of petrol.

The pair were arrested by police at about 4am after a member of the public called to say two people were asleep on their trampoline.

Glenn admits the series of events was unusual and said 'not a neuron was used to consider what was happening” as McDonald carried out the kidnapping and subsequent events.

'He accepts responsibility for what he has done.”

Judge Ingram said the case was about as frightening as one can imagine.

McDonald's co-accused Cheyanne McCausland has pleaded not guilty to charges she is facing, and is remanded in custody until November 19.