By Finn Blackwell of RNZ

The man who murdered a woman on an Auckland bus will spend at least 12 years behind bars.

Kael Leona, 38, pleaded guilty to the murder of Bernice Louise Marychurch, who was killed in October 2024 while on the Number 74 bus in Onehunga.

She had been stabbed approximately 20 times.

There were nine other passengers on board.

Leona pleaded guilty to murder and strangulation at a hearing in the High Court at Auckland in February.

In the High Court on Wednesday, tearful statements were read from Marychurch's family.

A cousin, Mark Hiini was first to speak before the court.…