Masterton woman beat man to death

A Masterton woman who beat a man to death during a drunken confrontation has been jailed .

Diamond Orupe, 21, pleaded guilty in the High Court in Wellington yesterday to the manslaughter of her partner's stepfather, Steven Matiaha, The Dominion Post reported.

She attacked Mr Mr Matiaha after he threw a punch at his stepdaughter, Orupe's partner.

The pair fought ending up outside on the lawn where Orupa hit him so hard he fell unconscious to the ground where she continued to punch him. Mr Matiaha died later in hospital after suffering a brain haemorrhage.

Justice Forrest Miller said Orupe had not reacted until her partner was attacked.

She was an unusually strong woman while Mr Matiaha was just a small man.

Orupe's lawyer Louise Elder said with a different upbringing Orupe could have been a sporting star.

Instead she grew up one of 10 children in a family rife with drinking and violence, developing a serious alcohol problem herself.

Justice Miller accepted she was remorseful and had been provoked.

"Someone had to restrain (Mr Matiaha) but you didn't need to punch him," he said.

Orupe was sentenced to two years and four months jail.

- NZPA