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The family of Pihema Cameron are distraught at the sentencing of Bruce Emery for the stabbing death of the 15-year-old in Manurewa last year.
The Manurewa businessman was acquitted of murder last December but found guilty of manslaughter and has been sentenced to four years and three months in prison.
Emery, armed with a 13 centimetre knife, chased Cameron after seeing him and another teenager tagging his garage. Cameron was stabbed in the heart and died within minutes.
Throughout the trial Emery, 50, maintained he stabbed Cameron in self-defence but the dead teen's family had hoped for a murder conviction and were disappointed at the manslaughter verdict.
Justice Hugh Williams denied Emery's bail application and he has spent the past two months in prison.
Emery's wife was at court for Friday's sentencing, sitting in the front row with a small contingent of friends and family.
Cameron's mother Leanne Cameron was also there with supporters, many wearing t-shirts with a photo of him and the words "In loving memory".
The family had been calm throughout the trial but their anger showed at the sentencing. They gave moving submissions and wanted to see a much longer sentence imposed. They were inconsolable at the court, standing around in a circle and hugging each other.
Leanne Cameron looked Emery in the eye when she said she has never felt so much hatred toward anyone as she does towards him.
Her anger was apparent when she almost spat out the words: "Emery's destroyed and broken up my family, taken my son's life over a bit of paint."
Sniffling could be heard in the court as six more submissions were read and the family became more and more upset.
Williams rejected the defence's proposal of home detention for Emery, saying its maximum duration of one year is inappropriate in this case.
He told the court mitigating factors included Emery's age, his lack of threat to the community and previous good character, and the conduct of the victim and his friend leading up to the stabbing.
