A woman accused of murdering her cheating husband with an axe was last night found guilty of manslaughter.
A jury in the High Court at Auckland took just under six hours to convict Epifania Suluape, the wife of slain traditional Samoan tattooist Paulo Suluape.
The 56-year-old woman remained quiet and composed as
the jury returned about 9.30 pm. Justice Tony Randerson remanded her in custody for sentencing on July 20.
The case was a retrial after an earlier jury could not agree on a verdict.
The Crown, represented by Richard Marchant and Howard Lawry, told the jury that after picking up the axe in the kitchen, the enraged woman attacked the world-renowned tattooist as he played the organ in a sleepout at their Otara home on November 24, 1999.
Suluape was accused of murdering her husband by repeatedly hitting him about the head with the back of an axe after he said he was leaving her.
Earlier yesterday, defence lawyer Kevin Ryan, QC, described Paulo Suluape as a "Polynesian Rasputin," a thug and a bully.
Mr Ryan said his client was suffering from battered women's syndrome after years of physical and verbal abuse, hurts, humiliations and infidelities.
Paulo Suluape had also paraded his new lover in front of their daughter in Suluape's homeland, Samoa, inflicting the ultimate disgrace.
Mr Ryan said the final provocation was when Suluape's husband said he was leaving. Suluape had gone berserk and lost all self-control.
The jury retired at 3.45 pm after hearing Justice Randerson sum up at the end of the five-day trial.
After the verdict, Mr Ryan said he and and his client were very pleased with the result.
"It's been a strain for her. It's not easy. She has a vulnerable personality. This has been going on for two years."
Mr Ryan said he had not slept for the past two nights, thinking about the case.
"You just want to do your best.
"Sometimes you ask your maker for a miracle and he grants it to you.
"I feel justice has been done."
Suluape felt the death of her husband intensely, Mr Ryan said.
"She realises she's the one that caused his death.
"She's not blaming anyone else."
