Hamilton woman Carol Waa admits causing death of husband

Carol Takua Waa, 61, today admitted an alternative charge of causing the death of her husband Gerald Wiremu Waa at their Te Aroha St flat in Hamilton on March 11. Photo / File

A Hamilton woman has admitted causing the death of her husband.

Carol Takua Waa, 61, was due to go on trial on Monday to defend a charge of murdering her husband, Gerald Wiremu Waa, at their Te Aroha St flat on March 11, last year.

The trial was set down for five days in the High Court at Hamilton.

However she made a brief appearance in court today where Crown prosecutor Ross Douch told Justice Anne Hinton they had added an alternative charge of manslaughter.

Waa then admitted the alternative charge of causing the death of her husband by an unlawful act, namely assault, and thereby committed manslaughter.

Douch said the murder charge will be withdrawn at sentencing.

Justice Hinton convicted Waa and also issued a first strike warning as the charge is a qualifying violence offence.

Waa was remanded on further bail to reappear for sentencing on May 10.

The judge said a remand on bail wouldn't normally be given but it wasn't opposed by the Crown.