Five minutes later, she was pulled over by police in Bank Rd and admitted drinking four RTDs.
She gave a breath-alcohol reading of 551mcg — more than twice the legal limit.
The May 2014 killing was allegedly sparked because Samson, then 22, believed Protos spread rumours about her.
She began a vicious assault, removed his bloodied clothing and bound his hands behind his back, before covering him with a blanket and punching and kicking him sporadically over the next four hours.
The pair later drove to Samson's house where she allowed him to shower but the argument reignited.
She inflicted a superficial wound to Protos' neck, and then proceeded to strangle him with a computer cord, wrapped around his neck three times.
That night, Samson texted an associate saying she was ''cleaning up my mess'' and requested cleaning products and petrol.
She was originally charged with murder but eventually pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of manslaughter.
Protos' parents Gail and Jimmy were devastated the murder charge against Samson was dropped.
Judge John Macdonald sentenced Samson yesterday, on a charge of drink-driving and two counts of breaching release conditions, to six months supervision (to begin at the end of January when her release conditions lapsed).
He disqualified her from driving for six months.
The judge declined an application by the Otago Daily Times to photograph the defendant because she had three young children.
