Little was stabbed in a Hornby home 13 times by Ellery in October 2013.
24-year-old Ellery and his partner Sarah Elizabeth Barry, 28, appeared in the Christchurch High Court today for sentencing.
Ellery had earlier pleaded guilty to murder, while Barry had pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
Ellery was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum period of 11 years, while Barry received a sentence of seven months home detention.
Little and Barry had previously been in a relationship.
Ellery and Barry believed Little was responsible for throwing a brick through a window of their home, and tracked him down to a house in Hornby.
Armed with a knife Ellery entered the house and committed the murder.
