A Napier woman who fatally stabbed her partner in the
chest with a steak knife has been jailed for eight years.
Jacqueline Elaine Wihongi, 38, was found guilty in June of
killing her partner of 17 years, Vivian Hirini, in suburban
Tamatea on June 5 last year.
During sentencing at the High Court in Napier yesterday,
Justice John Wild said it would be manifestly unjust to
sentence Wihongi to life imprisonment due to her "history of
victimhood".
She is believed to be the second person to receive less than
a life sentence for murder, The Dominion Post reported.
Under the Sentencing Act 2002, finite penalties were made
available for murder if a life sentence would be "manifestly
unjust".
Defence lawyer Russell Fairbrother said the murder was the
result of a violent relationship, showing the court more than
500 pages of police reports on domestic incidents between the
couple.
Crown lawyer Steve Manning said Wihongi had a long history of
violence toward her partner and did not suffer from "battered
woman syndrome".
Justice Wild said Wihongi regretted killing Mr Hirini and her
"alcohol abuse disorder" was treatable.
"I consider you as a person both deserving of help and who
can be helped," he said.
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