A Wanganui woman has been found guilty of the murder on
Valentine's Day last year of a neighbour she believed was
"coming on" to her partner.
It took a jury in the High Court at Wanganui a little over
three hours to find Ana Andrea Hemara guilty of murdering
Heather Rose Simons, The Wanganui Chronicle reported.
Hemara was last week remanded in custody for sentencing in
the High Court at Wellington on March 12.
She had denied murder but admitted the manslaughter of Ms
Simons on February 14 last year.
Hemara had invited Ms Simons to her home for a drink after
noticing her hanging out washing.
But the neighbourly gesture turned horribly wrong when Hemara
took offence at what she described as Ms Simons "coming on to
her partner".
The prosecution said Hemara pulled cerebral palsy sufferer Ms
Simons from her chair and repeatedly punched her head, and
stomped on her back and head with her bare feet.
Hemara's counsel Stephen Ross said his client was guilty of
manslaughter, not murder.
Her assault was fuelled by jealousy while under the influence
of alcohol and drugs, he said.
A name, residential address, and (preferably residential) telephone number is required from readers who comment on ODT Online. These details will not be visible to site visitors.