The murder of Tūrangi mother Cheri-Lee Bell followed months of escalating harassment, threats and breaches of a protection order by her former partner. Lance Dickinson has now been sentenced to life imprisonment, with the court finding numerous aggravating features in the killing.
eLocal Report: Based on reporting by Ric Stevens for the New Zealand Herald, republished by RNZ HERE.
Lance Dickinson has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum non-parole period of 17 years for the murder of his former partner, Cheri-Lee Bell, after a prolonged period of harassment, threats and breaches of court-imposed restrictions.
The High Court at Rotorua heard that Dickinson and Bell had met as teenagers at Tongariro College and had been together for about 12 years. They had two children together.
Their relationship deteriorated amid escalating family violence. Bell obtained a protection order against Dickinson in December 2023 and ended the relationship in April 2025.
But the protection order did not end Dickinson's contact with her.
Justice Pheroze Jagose said Dickinson bombarded Bell with thousands of calls, messages and texts, including abusive communications and threats to stab and kill her. He also went to her workplace, her parents' home and her own house despite being repeatedly told to leave her alone.
Released on Bail Weeks Before the Murder
On 30 May 2025, Dickinson was released from custody on bail after being charged with breaching the protection order.
Over the following three weeks, according to the court account, he repeatedly breached his bail conditions by contacting Bell, visiting her home and failing to comply with a night-time curfew.
The court was also told that in the weeks before Bell's death Dickinson made internet searches including "how to track phone", "lawyer Taupō" and "how long jail for murder".
Those searches were later cited in the pre-sentence material as evidence suggesting the killing was calculated and planned.
On 16 June, Dickinson drove past Bell's home and recorded video of a vehicle in the driveway belonging to a friend staying with her. He then parked nearby, walked back to the property and entered without invitation.
Several days later, early on 20 June, Dickinson again entered Bell's home uninvited.
An argument followed.
Dickinson attacked Bell with a knife, stabbing her 13 times. She died at the scene. The killing occurred while Bell's teenage sister and one of her children were in the house.
Dickinson subsequently drove to Taumarunui. He later told police that he had gone to Bell's home to collect their daughter and claimed that during the confrontation he grabbed a knife before "blacking out".
The murder weapon was never recovered.
Court Finds Numerous Aggravating Features
Justice Pheroze Jagose said he counted nine aggravating features in the murder of Cheri-Lee Bell. Photo: NZME.
Justice Jagose told the court he had read victim impact statements from Bell's parents, brother, sister and a friend, describing the continuing effect of her death on her children, family and wider community.
The judge identified numerous aggravating features, including Dickinson's unlawful entry into Bell's home, use of a weapon, the brutality of the attack, offending while on bail, the family-violence context and his breach of the protection order.
A probation assessment also concluded Dickinson presented a high risk of reoffending and a high risk of causing harm to others.
The seriousness of those factors resulted in a minimum non-parole period substantially beyond the ordinary 10-year minimum associated with a life sentence for murder.
Dickinson was sentenced to life imprisonment with no possibility of parole for 17 years. He also received a concurrent sentence of six years and nine months for multiple breaches of the protection order.
He received a first warning under New Zealand's three-strikes regime.
The Protection Order Question
Beyond the sentence itself, Bell's murder presents a confronting sequence of events.
A protection order was already in place. Dickinson had allegedly breached it. He had been charged over those breaches and taken into custody. He was then released on bail, after which the court heard that he repeatedly breached his conditions and continued contacting Bell.
Within weeks, Bell was dead.
That chronology does not by itself establish that any individual agency or official could have predicted or prevented the murder. But it does raise legitimate questions about how New Zealand's protection-order and bail systems respond when threatening behaviour continues to escalate.
Protection orders are intended to provide legal protection from family violence. Their practical effectiveness ultimately depends upon breaches being detected, reported and responded to appropriately, particularly where threats, stalking or repeated unwanted contact indicate increasing risk.
For Bell's family, those questions now come far too late.
Where to Get Help
If you or someone you know is experiencing family violence, immediate help is available.
Women's Refuge: 0800 733 843
Shine: 0508 744 633
It's Not OK: 0800 456 450
Victim Support: 0800 842 846
If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 111.
Source
Original reporting by Ric Stevens for the New Zealand Herald, republished by RNZ.
Read the original RNZ report
Independent reporting. Original context. Credited sources.