Auckland’s Sandringham dairy stabbing: Life imprisonment for 501 who killed Janak Patel

Wednesday, 26 June 2024

Sandringham locals gather and sing outside Rose Cottage Superette after a fatal stabbing at the dairy in central Auckland.

Janak Patel was fatally stabbed while he was looking after a dairy in Auckland for the owners.

Frederick Hobson admitted murdering Patel and Shane Tane admitted a charge of aggravated robbery.

Patel’s sister previously said no family should have to suffer like they did.

A man, who was deported from Australia, has been sentenced to life imprisonment after he repeatedly stabbed dairy worker Janak Patel after he tried to retrieve what had been stolen.

Frederick Hobson, 36, was sentenced to life imprisonment after he admitted a charge of murder and aggravated robbery. Justice Simon Moore ordered he must serve at least 15 years behind bars before he can apply for parole on the charge of murder.

At that point it is then up to the Parole Board as to whether or not they believe a defendant can be released and will still be subjected to a lifetime of monitoring, Justice Moore said.

“You (Hobson) killed him to thwart his extraordinary heroic actions as he was determined to retrieve what you had stolen,” Justice Moore said.

Janak Patel (right inset) was stabbed outside the Rose Cottage Dairy in Sandringham.

Hobson was also sentenced to four years and 6 months for the aggravated robbery. He will serve this concurrently with the murder sentence.

Shane Tane, 44, who previously admitted a charge of aggravated robbery was sentenced to four years and 6 months imprisonment.

At the sentencing on Wednesday, Justice Simon Moore acknowledged Patel’s family and their grief for the “needless and tragic” death.

Earlier this year, the Solicitor General granted a third defendant, Henry Fred, a stay of proceedings as he is terminally ill.

Patel’s murder sparked nationwide protests calling for better safety for small businesses.

“I do not want this to happen to anybody else”

The court heard from Patel’s parents who had been over in New Zealand on a trip of a lifetime when their youngest son was brutally killed and it turned into unimaginable horror.

McClintock read out the victim impact statements on behalf of the family members.

Patel’s mother spoke of how her son was the kindest person and the grief had devastated her.

A candelit vigil was held for Janak Patel outside the Rose Cottage Superette.

“He was stolen from us and I feel helpless as I can’t do anything about it… the only way forward is to accept,” she said.

Patel’s father said the family were from humble beginnings and he’d missed out on a lot of his children’s lives as he was working in Dubai to provide for them.

“We didn’t know this would be the last time we’d see him.”

Patel’s father said his life had been shattered because of the defendant’s actions and he gets sad seeing similar crimes still happening.

“It feels like nothing has changed. I do not want this to happen to anybody else,” he said.

Patel’s sister Nilam Patel, who also owns a dairy in Hamilton, said she now lives in constant fear.

“If we could leave and do something else, we would.”

Janak Patel’s continue to be devastated by his death.

She still experienced flashbacks of receiving the frantic phone call from Patel’s wife.

As she drove from Hamilton to Auckland she found out “he is no more”.

“I couldn’t tell my parents, I couldn’t bring myself to tell them and devastate them…I couldn’t tell them until I knew it was true. My mind would not allow me to accept her words…I didn’t know I could experience so much sadness.”

“His passing would shake the world…I had to be strong and support my parents.”

Nilam Patel spoke of how then Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern visited the family and cried with them.

What happened?

On the evening of November 23, 2022, Patel and his wife were working at the Rose Cottage Superette in Sandringham to look after the dairy while the owners were away.

That same night, the defendants had hatched a plan to rob the dairy and steal cash from the till and anything else he could grab.

Justice Simon Moore sentenced the pair on Wednesday.

Shortly after 7pm, Tane conducted reconnaissance on foot along Haverstock Rd. Hobson was also conducting reconnaissance.

Just after 8pm, Hobson pulled a black bandanna up to cover up the bottom half of his face and ran into the dairy holding a knife and a brown paper bag.

He ran behind the counter and approached the till.

Patel’s wife saw Hobson and ran through a back door to escape. Patel stepped out of that room and was confronted with Hobson holding the knife.

Patel retreated as Hobson picked up a cash register.

He left the dairy and walked in a “calm and casual” manner towards Duncan Ave, almost sauntering.

Frederick Hobson apologised to Patel’s family in a letter.

Not wanting to let Hobson get away with the till, Patel grabbed a hockey stick and ran after him.

About 150m from the dairy, Hobson put the cash register into a wheelie bin, but heard Patel coming behind him.

Hobsonaggressively advanced towards Patel holding a knife and the tree branch.

Patel retreated and swung the hockey stick.

Hobson waited for Patel to swing the hockey stick again, dropped the tree branch and lunged towards Patel with a knife, pushing him onto the ground on his back.

Shane Tane was sentenced for the aggravated robbery.

Hobson leant over, held Patel down and stabbed him three times in quick succession.

He then attempted to wrench the hockey stick from Patel’s grasp, but he managed to get onto his feet.

Hobson then stabbed Patel a further three times, the final blow was to his neck.

At this point, Patel moved around the wheelie bin in an attempt to get away, but Hobson attempted to stab him again.

Patel collapsed after taking five steps towards the dairy. He was bleeding profusely from his various stab wounds and died a short time later. The fatal wounds included the left-hand side of his chest and the other to his back.

Meanwhile, Hobson collected the wheelie bin and continued walking casually along the road.

He retrieved the cash register and left the wheelie bin on the pavement before changing his clothes and getting into a car.

Defendants apologise

The court heard Tane remained “utterly contrite” in relation to his role in the offending.

Hobson’s lawyer, David Young, read out a letter from his client where he took accountability for his actions.

“I make no excuses for my actions and take full responsibility for what happened that day. I am deeply ashamed. From the bottom of my heart I am truly very sorry.”

Hobson said he plans to use his time in prison wisely to rehabilitate and become a better man for his children.

“I admit I am a coward and a low life criminal with a drug addition and no respect for the law.”

Hobson was subjected to a returning offenders order at the time after he’d been deported from Australia. He told a report writer he had consumed methamphetamine and GBH in the lead up to the offending and was homeless.