Christchurch man James Holder sentenced to life in prison for murder

The mother of murdered Christchurch man David Bridgwater has told his killer that her son was taken in the "most brutal and heartless way imaginable", at a High Court sentencing.

James Holder has been jailed for life for murdering Bridgwater in Aranui on 4 January 2024, with a minimum non-parole period of 11 years and nine months.

Holder shot Bridgwater outside a property hours after a music festival and left him to die on the street.

At his trial in October, a jury rejected Holder's claim that he acted in self-defence.

Holder's partner Leanne Crighton, who pleaded guilty to attempting to pervert the course of justice, was sentenced to 16 months in jail.

In a victim impact statement from Bridgwater's mother Carole Bridgwater, read to the court by a family friend, she said Holder's actions were murderous and cowardly.

"My beautiful boy was taken from me in the most brutal and heartless way imaginable. David was just 38 years of age, he was a loving father to his two young boys, a caring son, a loyal brother and a friend to so many," she said.

"James, my son had everything ahead of him his whole life, he was leaving your place and you didn't let him go, in one moment you selfishly, violently took all that away from him. You didn't just kill David that night you killed a part of me too."

Carole Bridgwater said she lay awake every night thinking of how scared her son must have been and how much he suffered.

"He died alone because of your actions. That thought will haunt me forever," she said.

David Bridgwater's brother Jason Bridgwater told Holder his family had been ripped apart and would carry the grief for the rest of their lives.

"I saw you the day after you murdered my brother at your house. You had your back to me the whole time, I was trying to get your attention to see if you had rung the ambulance, but not once did you look. If only I knew, " he said.

"You might serve your sentence and eventually walk free, but our family will serve a life sentence. We will never forgive what you've done to him."

During the trial, the Crown argued Holder acted with murderous intent on the night he killed Bridgwater.

Bridgwater had been at the Juicy Fest music festival in the hours before his death.

He later travelled to Holder's Aranui house in Carisbrooke Street with some people who knew Holder, to pick up some methamphetamine.

They left, but later returned to Holder's house, where they all hung out in the garage.

The defence argued Bridgwater's behaviour was rude, obnoxious and dangerous.

He was later asked to leave.

As Bridgwater was leaving, he was followed outside by Holder and his partner Leanne Crighton, and an altercation happened in the street.

In sentencing, Justice Preston said Holder was the aggressor.

"While I accept it appears Mr Bridgwater struck Ms Crighton at one point with the walking stick, or part of it, I am satisfied as the Crown submitted at trial, and the verdict of the jury indicates Mr Holder, your actions from the moment you shot Mr Bridgwater were not those of a person acting in desperate self-defence at that time to meet a lethal threat, but rather, someone who was angry and reacted in the moment, shooting Mr Bridgwater at relatively close range to a most vulnerable part of his body," she said.

"Mr Bridgwater was gravely wounded, the shot tore through his abdomen, through vital organs and major blood vessels. His injuries were inevitably fatal and he died within minutes despite the efforts of young men, strangers who came to his aid."

Preston said neither Holden, nor Crighton, made any attempt to help Bridgwater or call for an ambulance and instead were focused on fleeing the scene and trying to conceal the crime.

Holden disposed of the gun and Crighton tried to destroy an outdoor security camera that was later found burned at a property, Preston said.

Holder's defence lawyer John Wayne Howell said his client was remorseful.

"It wasn't his intention to end a life or end Mr Bridgwater's life and he acknowledges that he has to take accountability for his actions. There isn't a day that he doesn't think about that night. Mr Holder's position that he maintains that he was acting in self defence isn't incompatible with remorse," he said.

Justice Preston said victim impact statements showed the immense harm to Bridgwater's family as a result of his murder.

"Mr Bridgwater's family are traumatised, not only due to the manner in which he died, but the lack of care shown to him in his final moments. With broken hearts they have told me of the scars they will always carry," he said.

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