Caregiver jury retires

A High Court jury considering whether two South Auckland caregivers are guilty of the manslaughter of an intellectually impaired woman they cared for went home last night after hearing Justice Pamela Andrews sum up.

Joseph Proude, 47, and Here Teinakirai, 53, deny the manslaughter as a result of an assault on Patricia Joseph, whose body was found in the Wairoa River near Clevedon, south of Auckland, by kayakers in January 2008.

The jury deliberated until 4.45pm, when they went home. They will resume deliberations today.

The Crown says Ms Joseph was assaulted about January 1, 2008 and left on the bathroom floor until January 13, when her body was taken to the Wairoa River.