Woman guilty of manslaughter
PA Dunedin A jury in the High Court at Dunedin has found a woman not guilty of murder but guilty of the manslaughter of a man she stabbed at her home on June 20. Dawn Leslie Gibbins, aged 47, a solo mother, had denied a charge of the murder of Maurice Rua Hema, aged 57. Mr Hema died in Dunedin Hospital on July 9 as a result of brain damage after a prolonged cardiac arrest and other complications arising from a stab wound to the abdomen.
The jury reached its decision after almost four hours of deliberation. Mr Justice Jeffries remanded Gibbins on bail of $lOOO to October 25 for sentence. A condition of bail was that she live as an inpatient at Wakari Hospital. Gibbins was originally charged with the attempted murder of Mr Hema after the stabbing incident. The charge was changed to one of murder after his death. She was represented during her two-day trial by Mr J. M. Conradson, with Mrs G. M. Houghton. Mr J. B. Robertson and Mr R. P. Bates prosecuted.
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Press, 12 October 1985, Page 5
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182Woman guilty of manslaughter Press, 12 October 1985, Page 5
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