Man admits partner's manslaughter

A Bay of Plenty man accused of murdering his partner after finding her in bed with another man has pleaded guilty to manslaughter. File photo / NZ Herald

A Bay of Plenty man accused of murdering his partner after finding her in bed with another man had a manslaughter plea accepted at the High Court at Rotorua this morning.

Gavin Horua, 35, unemployed, from Kaingaroa Forest, 50km southeast of Rotorua, had denied murdering Luana Ani Raukawa at their home in the forestry village on November 7, 2009.

The Crown this morning withdrew a murder charge and accepted his manslaughter plea.

Crown prosecutor Amanda Gordon said at the start of the trial the couple had been drinking heavily with friends when Ms Raukawa collapsed drunk into bed.

Soon after partygoer Jason (Paora) Ransfield went to her bedroom where he began to kiss her. When Horua went to the bedroom looking for a guest's car keys, Mr Ransfield left.

Horua then attacked his partner, inflicting blows to her head and face,

He later went to his ex-partner's home where he said he had caught Ms Raukawa and Jason Ransfield in his bed.

He kissed his four children, saying he would not be seeing them for a long time.

Ms Raukawa was later pronounced dead.

Horua was remanded for sentencing on July 15.

Justice John Priestley called for victim impact statements and a pre-sentence report to be prepared and for the possibility of a restorative justice conference to be explored.

- NZPA