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Waikato man James Te Hiko found guilty of murdering partner

Author
Newstalk ZB Staff ,
Publish Date
Tue, 28 Mar 2017, 12:38PM
A Waikato man has been found guilty of murdering his partner in a savage beating where she was struck more than 70 times. (Photo/File)
A Waikato man has been found guilty of murdering his partner in a savage beating where she was struck more than 70 times. (Photo/File)

Waikato man James Te Hiko found guilty of murdering partner

Author
Newstalk ZB Staff ,
Publish Date
Tue, 28 Mar 2017, 12:38PM

A Waikato man has been found guilty of murdering his partner in a savage beating where she was struck more than 70 times.

A jury in the High Court at Rotorua took 45 minutes to find James Te Hiko guilty of murdering Queenie Karaka, known as Nina Thompson, at Atiamuri in April last year.

The verdict was greeted with sobs from the packed public gallery and Justice Murray Gilbert gave Te Hiko the first of his three strikes warnings.

The trial had lasted six days.

The Crown argued the accused knew Ms Thompson could die from the savage drug and alcohol fuelled beating he dished out after she suggested she could find another man.

Te Hiko argued it was a case of manslaughter.

The 44-year-old will be sentenced on April 28.

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