Further information
James Tamata almost got away his crime until 6 years later. The Police wrongly concluded Janine Law died as the result of an asthma attack despite her body being found bruised and semi-naked with a tea towel stuffed into her mouth and showing signs of recent intercourse. Forensic evidence later uncovered DNA which matched material from Tamata who was already serving a prison sentence in the maximum security jail at Paremoremo for other crimes. Justice Morris described Tamata's actions against Ms Law that night as "barbaric, callous and wicked in the extreme", describing Tamata's "uncontrollable sexual appetite and desires". The court had to protect women from sexual predators like him. The judge said there were no mitigating factors and rejected Tamata's claim to be remorseful and also rejected that his actual motive was that he was committing robbing houses to feed his drug and alcohol addiction.