Outside the court, family friend Alan Wharerau comments on behalf of the Gotingco family

As Tony Robertson is sent to jail for "life", the man who put him away for his previous offending against children has described the killer as "incredibly cold and angry".

Transport Minister and former Tauranga Crown prosecutor MP Simon Bridges has finally spoken about the man he helped send to prison in 2006.

Bridges had appealed at the time for Robertson to be sentenced to preventive detention, but the sentencing judge in 2006 showed leniency to the then-teenaged Robertson.

CHRIS SKELTON/ FAIRFAX NZ Tony Robertson flanked by security guards during his sentencing for the murder of Blessie Gotingco.

Speaking after Robertson was sentenced on thursday for the rape and murder of Blessie Gotingco, Bridges recalled the 2006 case as "haunting".

"I recall Robertson himself as an incredibly cold and angry individual. His yelling and swearing in the witness box led me to seek additional security at court, something I never did in any other case," the politician said in a statement.



"Prosecuting the Robertson case in 2006 was a haunting experience both because of the circumstances and the offender.

CHRIS SKELTON/FAIRFAX MEDIA Tony Robertson appears for sentencing over the rape and murder of Blessie Gotingco.

"The 5-year-old victim's evidence that she was 'stolen' on her walk to school, along with the circumstances in which the police found her with Robertson, was chilling.

"I believe Robertson is one of New Zealand's worst offenders and I am glad justice has taken its course."

Earlier on Thursday, Robertson, now 28, was sentenced to preventive detention for the rape and murder of the Auckland mother.

CHRIS SKELTON/STUFF Blessie Gotingco's husband Antonio outside the Auckland High Court after Robertson's sentencing.

He may never leave prison.

Justice Timothy Brewer told Robertson at sentencing: "You came across Mrs Gotingco, a small, slightly built woman who was crossing the road. You took advantage of the opportunity and deliberately ran her down.

"It was a bestial action and it was committed with the intention that your victim would not survive."

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Justice Brewer noted that Gotingco was badly hurt after she was struck by Roberston's BMW.

"You did not seek treatment. You put her in your car and drove to your garage. You raped her in the back of your car, despite her injuries. You strangled her with your hand, I infer to subdue her. After you had raped Mrs Gotingco you killed her with a knife. This was so she could not identify you. You stabbed her many times before cutting her throat."

Brewer had no doubt Robertson would reoffend, given the chance.

"Your history, and the reports I have received, make it very plain that you would be likely to commit another qualifying offence no matter how long any finite sentence might be," he said.

On the charge of murder, Robertson was sentenced to life with a minimum non-parole period of 24 years.

He was sentenced to preventive detention on the rape charge.

The sentence, delivered in the High Court at Auckland meant Robertson may be locked up indefinitely.

The court's gallery was packed with members of the public and members of Gotingco's family.

Robertson was flanked by five guards, and sat with his head bowed.

In a victim impact statement that was read to the court, Blessie's husband Antonio said their lives would never be the same again.

"Our dreams have been turned into a recurring nightmare quite literally."

Their dream of buying a home was now gone, and his very will to live had suffered.

"It makes me so angry knowing Blessie was living a healthy and happy life, and did nothing to this offender to deserved such an unbelievably violent cruel, depraved vicious and callous attack," he said.

This offender still has his life. No one has the right to do the evil that was inflicted on my wife, and I pray that he never has the opportunity to do this again.

"Words cannot express the pain, torture and anguish my family has endured."

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Blessie's son John Gotingco told the court his mother was "the greatest person I know."

"We had so many hopes and dreams, dreams that will now forever remain dreams," he said.

"Not a day goes by when I don't think of the events of May 24. They are forever in my thoughts."

Outside the court, family friend Alan Wharerau said the Gotingcos were relieved the "cowardly and evil" Robertson was behind bars.

"While no sentence can return Blessie to us, the legal process is now completed and we can focus on our family once again."

Wharerau described Blessie's death as "preventable" and said he hoped it would at least serve as a catalyst for change.

"There are other Robertsons living within our communities and the family is hopeful the independent review's scope will ensure that their monitoring capabilities and processes of the Corrections department are reviewed and corrected urgently. Blessie's death must not be in vain.

"Now that this sentence has been passed down Robertson will never walk the streets again."

Robertson, 28, whose name was suppressed during his trial and appeal, was convicted of the 2014 rape and murder in May.

Crown prosecutor Michael Walker said the crime was premeditated.

"Robertson planned to abduct, rape and kill the only witness to his crime."

The impact on Blessie's family was "incalculable" he said.

PREVIOUS PRISON TIME

The crimes occurred just five months after Robertson was released from prison.

He served eight years for offences, including the indecent assault of a 5-year-old girl.

Psychologist reports labelled him an ongoing threat to society.

He was profiled as a violent offender with poor impulse control and "deviant sexual preferences".

It was predicted he may reoffend badly when released - and he did.

Robertson was released from prison in December 2013, after serving his full eight-year sentence for the indecent assault on the girl in Tauranga in 2005.

He was sentenced concurrently for abduction and committing three indecencies on the girl, attempted kidnapping of two other children and robbing a child.

The sentencing judge could have locked him up indefinitely, but opted to show mercy towards the then-teenage Robertson.

Robertson admitted killing Blessie, but said it was an accident, partly because he was high on drugs - a claim he maintained at his sentencing.

He left Blessie in the car overnight and next morning drove her to Eskdale cemetery and dumped her body.

Robertson's identity was kept secret from the public throughout the trial.

The jury was repeatedly warned not to Google his name because of his criminal history.