11.15AM: Ron Brown's family have reacted quietly to his killer being sentenced to twelve years imprisonment, with the judge noting that Ferdinand Ambach has shown no real remorse and that any provocation leading to the attack was at the "lowest possible level." In sentencing Ambach to twelve years imprisonment, with a non-parole period of eight years, for the manslaughter of Brown in December 2007, Justice Helen Winkelman took into account that Ambach seemed to have limited insight into his offending, has shown no "real" remorse and appears to accept no responsibility for Brown's death. The judge spoke of Ambach's "crazed" actions on the night as an attempt "to annihilate Mr Brown and everything associated with him." She said the shoving of the broken banjo neck into the dying Brown's mouth was an attempt to "humiliate and degrade" the elderly man. Addressing Brown's alleged sexual overture, Winkelman said it comprised a "brief, fleeting" touch on the thigh, "the lowest level of provocation possible." She acknowledged that Ambach had no previous convictions but believes he is at high risk of reoffending. Ambach remained impassive during his sentencing, as he has throughout the trial, occasionally looking down to the floor. He showed no reaction when the judge passed sentence. Three family members and around twenty supporters reacted calmly to the sentence and were rushed from the High Court without making comment. While reading her victim impact statement Brown's sister, Colleen Wise, called Ambach a coward and had voiced her support for the repeal of the partial defence of provocation. A police spokesperson said the sentence "brings closure" to the family.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Friday, 18th September 2009 - 11:15am