The woman who plunged a knife into her partner's chest so hard it chipped his ribs and left the skin bruised from the force of the blow has been found not guilty of murder.
Natalie Ford, 44, has been found not guilty of murdering Gary Marshall at Orewa in January last year. She has admitted stabbing him but claimed it was self-defence after she was punched, kicked and choked.
The jury deliberated for about five hours before coming back with the not guilty verdict shortly before 5pm today.
During the trial, locals said they heard screaming and yelling in the lead-up to Mr Marshal's death.
Before the jury retired, Ford described the fight between the couple that led to the stabbing.