Judge warns Wairarapa sheep killer

A Pahiatua woman who pleaded guilty to the slaughter and theft of 16 sheep has been told to start taking proceedings seriously or risk making her sentence harder.

Holly Louise Marlow, also known as Holly Cameron, appeared reluctantly yesterday in the Palmerston North District Court. She was visibly upset that media applications had been made to film her and on entering the room, she used an expletive and held a piece of paper over her face.

Marlow is one of four people charged with killing 16 sheep on two Eketahuna properties in July this year. The sheep were all in-lamb ewes due to give birth in spring.

Judge Les Atkins remanded Marlow on bail until November for sentencing while a pre-sentence report was prepared.

Defence lawyer Tony Thackery said Marlow wished to advise the court she was not a teacher as listed on court documents. He asked for current bail conditions to continue so his client could pick up her children from school.

Judge Atkins told Marlow that her "performance" yesterday led him to believe sentencing might need to be more restrictive than community work.

Marlow is facing additional charges, including one of obstructing police and one of possessing a pipe to smoke methamphetamine.

One of the co-accused and Marlow's partner, Jordon Hanson, is due to appear for sentencing next week, while Tyson Lewis was sentenced to 175 hours' community work for his part.

Debra Paulson has been charged with receiving the stolen meat but has pleaded not guilty.

She is due to reappear for a case review in November alongside the fourth co-accused, Hamish van der Wiel, who has also pleaded not guilty.