Te Miringa Tipene told a social worker she would die at the hands of her partner nearly two months before she was found dead in her Taumarunui home, the High Court at Hamilton heard yesterday.
Her de facto husband Nikora Allan Turner, aged 32, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Ms
Tipene, known as Milly Dunn, between August 23 and 29 last year.
The 42-year-old was found dead by her teenage daughter at her New Rd home, six days after police believe she was beaten and strangled by her partner.
Taumarunui Child Youth and Family Services social worker Frana Chase told the court yesterday that Ms Tipene feared for her life when she saw her last July.
Ms Chase had gone to the house to remove Ms Tipene's 14-year-old son from her care after reports of domestic violence. She took the police with her and found Ms Tipene with a black eye and broken glasses.
She said that while the police spoke to Turner, Ms Tipene told her: "I know that I'm going to die at the hands of Nikora."
Turner's defence lawyer, Sean Ellis, asked her why she did not pass this on to the police or take it seriously.
Ms Chase said she did take it seriously and removed the son the next day, but could only give Ms Tipene advice. "She knew what her fate was, but she wasn't prepared to move."
Crown prosecutor Mark Sturm told the court Turner had a history of violence and threatening behaviour towards his partner of two years. He quoted from "chilling" letters Turner had written to Ms Tipene while he was away last May.
Turner said that when he returned she had four options. "I stay, I stay and crack you, I crack you and leave, I get life." In another letter, he said: "Wait till I get hold of you. Nothing can stop me when my mind is set to do something."
Mr Sturm said that on the night Ms Tipene was last seen alive, police arrested Turner for threatening to kill her at a party in Taumarunui. He was released on bail the same night and returned home.
Turner met three friends at a hotel later that night and told them he had given Ms Tipene a "slap-up".
The friends returned to the house and found her with blood and swelling to her face but said they knew she was alive because she was groaning.
The next day a friend visited the house and thought she was asleep. Mr Sturm said she was probably dead.
The case is before Justice Grant Hammond.
Te Miringa Tipene told a social worker she would die at the hands of her partner nearly two months before she was found dead in her Taumarunui home, the High Court at Hamilton heard yesterday.
Her de facto husband Nikora Allan Turner, aged 32, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Ms
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