File photo An Auckland hitchhiker has been jailed for at least ten years after bashing a 64-year-old man to death after he made an "unwelcome sexual advance". Morgan Wayne Knight, 21, was sentenced at the High Court at Rotorua today for the murder of Gordon Tunnicliffe in Tokaanu, near Turangi, in April. He’d earlier pleaded guilty to the charge. Fairfax reports Knight was given a lift by Tunnicliff, and offered work to trim trees and a bed overnight at his home near Tokaanu. Late the same night the pair were watching television when Knight overreacted to a sexual advance by the victim who lent across and touched his crotch area, the court heard. Knight bashed the victim unconscious around the head and chest, stomping on his head 5 to 6 times, and leaving him lying on the floor bleeding while he ransacked his house and stole the victim's property. Tunnicliffe died two weeks later in Hastings from the injuries. In sentencing Justice Kit Toogood said Knight's actions were a "spontaneous overreaction to an unwelcome sexual advance," according to Fairfax. The Daily Post reports Knight's lawyer as saying his client accepted there was no excuse for his actions and he had entirely overreacted. He said the chances of rehabilitation for his client were good if he was able to work through his childhood issues.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 31st October 2012 - 2:32pm