Murder appeal rejected

A Taranaki woman has lost her appeal against her murder conviction for killing her ex-partner after she drove 13km, at speeds of up to 120km/h, with him clinging to the bonnet before smashing head on into a 4WD.

The Court of Appeal yesterday dismissed Cindy Fairburn's appeal. She claimed that the jury in her trial was not allowed to consider self-defence - she had feared violence from her former partner. She said the crash was an accident.

Last year, Fairburn was sentenced to life in prison with a non-parole period of 10 years.

The court said self-defence was not an option for Fairburn and the jury was correctly instructed and was satisfied as to the requisite intent for murder.