Life Sentence for Pre-Meditated Murder | Auckland News

Auckland News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 28, 2026 · 1m

Lance Dickinson, who stabbed his ex-partner Cheri-Lee Bell 13 times just weeks after researching how to track phones and jail terms for murder, has been sentenced to life without parole — with no chance of release for 17 years. Their 12-year relationship ended when Bell obtained a protection order against him after escalating abuse; yet Dickinson ignored it, sending thousands of abusive texts, visiting her home and workplace, and even threatening to kill her. The murder occurred in June last year during an argument at Bell’s home — where a child and her sister were present — as Dickinson…