A 25-year-old woman who ran her partner down with a car was sentenced to two years' prison for manslaughter despite a plea for leniency from the victim's mother.
Julia Moana Waring was sentenced in the High Court at Whangarei yesterday by Justice Judith Potter after earlier having been found guilty by a jury trial of the manslaughter, but not murder, of her defacto partner Jason Mark Kino.
On June 7 last year Waring did a rapid u-turn in Whangarei's Raewyn St and deliberately aimed her car at Mr Kino after the pair had earlier been arguing.
Mr Kino received serious head injuries and later died in hospital.
Justice Potter said it was clear by the trial verdict that the jury had accepted Waring had not intended to kill Mr Kino.
There were skid marks on the road at the scene which indicated Waring had braked before hitting the victim who had attempted to run.
In an interview with police after the event, Waring had said she thought she would just knock him down or he would jump out of the way.
Mr Kino's mother, Gina Erihe, asked the court that Waring not go to prison. She said most of the family did not blame her and wanted her home so they could grieve together.
"I know my son was no angel and what happened was not nice but we don't want to see her go to jail."
"We all love her and she's all I've got left of my son."
Justice Potter said there were no special circumstances which would allow her to suspend the prison sentence. She said there was little chance of Waring reoffending but there was a need for a deterrent to others.
She also sentenced Waring to 18 months' supervision on release from prison and ordered her to undertake courses as directed.
Justice Potter also gave leave to apply for home detention. Waring has already served 10 months of the term in custody while waiting for sentence.
- NORTHERN ADVOCATE
Two years jail for woman who ran down partner
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