Hung jury in fatal stabbing trial

Manslaughter accused Juliette Gerbes outside court. Photo / Warren Buckland

A jury in the trial of a woman accused of fatally stabbing her boyfriend has failed to reach a verdict after 10 hours' deliberating.

Juliette Anne Gerbes, 21, has been on trial in the High Court at Napier this week after pleading not guilty to manslaughter.

The jury retired to consider their verdict at midday yesterday before retiring for the day at 5pm.

They resumed deliberations at 10am today but the jury was dismissed by Justice Clifford at 3pm after failing to reach a unanimous or majority verdict.

The Crown alleged Gerbes stabbed her boyfriend Christopher Jones in the early hours of October 13, 2012.

Mr Jones died at Hawke's Bay Hospital hours later.

Gerbes denied causing the fatal wound and said Mr Jones pulled the knife into himself instead.

Gerbes was remanded on bail. A retrial will now be scheduled.