The 24-year-old Indian student was high on methamphetamine when he murdered his 22-year-old girlfriend who was 7-10 weeks pregnant.
Akash was sentenced to life imprisonment by the high court at Auckland on Tuesday after he pleaded guilty to the murder of Gurpreet Kaur, reported.
The court was told that Akash was taking medication for his psychotic episodes when he was in India. He stopped the treatment after he arrived in New Zealand on a student visa three years ago.
Akash’s lawyer told the court he and Gurpreet had formed a close bond but their families weren’t aware of their relationship.
Akash believed that he was the father of Kaur’s unborn child until the day of the murder when he came to know it wasn’t true.
Kaur’s body was discovered on 10 April this year. It bore 9 stab wounds and 20 cuts. It’s believed she was murdered three days ago on 7 April.
"You knew she was pregnant and stabbed her most deeply and often in [the] abdomen," the judge said while sentencing him.
The judge described the crime as cruel, brutal and callous.
Akash was charged with Kaur’s murder after police found blood stains in his car. He pleaded guilty to the crime after initially maintaining not guilty plea.
Akash must serve at least 17 years in jail and upon completion of his sentence, he will be deported to India.
