Convicted murderer Gay Oakes, found guilty in 1994 of burying her de facto husband in the back yard, may be walking free by the weekend.
English-born Oakes, 41, poisoned and suffocated her de facto husband Doug Gardner in 1993 then buried him in the back yard of the family's Christchurch home.
She
received a life sentence in 1994, with a minimum non-parole term of 10 years, but was last year given leave to apply for early release.
She will face a parole board in Christchurch today or tomorrow.
In June last year the parole board reduced Oakes' non-parole period to eight years in light of her contribution to prison life, and because she had said the murder was a reaction to Mr Gardner's threats to her and her children, and the abuse she suffered in the relationship.
The mother-of-six maintained she was the victim of battered women's syndrome and had been known to flee to women's refuges to escape frequent mental and physical abuse.
Mr Gardner died on or about January 29, 1993.
His body was buried in the garden for 14 months.
The parole board has not confirmed the date of Oakes' hearing but Mr Gardner's step-brother, Allan Hill of Wellington, said he has been contacted with a request for names of those wishing to attend today. Other family members had been told the hearing was tomorrow.
Authorities will not confirm the hearing date or whether she will be released this week.
- NZPA
