Defence closes in caregivers' trial over death

Here Teinakirai and Joseph Proude are accused of the manslaughter of Patricia Joseph. File photos / Brett Phibbs

The defence began closing speeches today in the trial of two caregivers accused of beating an intellectually impaired woman and leaving her without medical help to die days later.

Joseph Proude, 47, and Here Teinakirai, 53, both Auckland beneficiaries, have pleaded not guilty in the High Court to the manslaughter of Patricia Joseph, 37.

Her body, which was wrapped in pieces of cloth and weighed down with a rock, was found floating in the Wairoa River, near Clevedon, south of Auckland, by two kayakers on January 20, 2008.

Proude pleaded guilty to a second count of manslaughter by omitting to provide Ms Joseph with the necessary medical care and offering an indignity to Ms Joseph's body.

Teinakirai denied both those charges.

Proude and Teinakirai also pleaded not guilty to various assault charges dating back to October 2006, when the two became Ms Joseph's caregivers.

In his opening address Mark Edgar, defending Proude, said the pair blamed each other for what happened to Ms Joseph.

There was no direct evidence proving who assaulted her.

He said the Crown pathologist had not found a cause of death.

"We know there were no marks or overt injuries on the body. We know it had been in the river for seven to nine days. Her body was so badly decomposed it could not be identified," Mr Edgar added.

Proceeding.

- NZPA