Murder-acquitted in court for driving offences

Natalie Ford in the Auckland High Court where she is appeared on a charge of murdering her former partner Gary Marshall but was later acquitted. Photo / File

A woman who was acquitted of murdering her partner at trial last year has been convicted and discharged for driving while forbidden.

Natalie Ford, 45, was ordered to pay $133 in court costs by two justices of the peace in Auckland District Court this afternoon.

Ford was found driving without a current driver's licence on Waiheke Island in September last year, and was forbidden from driving by police.

About a month later, in the Auckland suburb of Onehunga, she was again found driving without a current licence so police charged her.

She pleaded guilty by way of a letter to the court, and provided proof that she had since renewed her licence.

In August last year, Ford was acquitted in the High Court at Auckland of murdering her partner, Gary Marshall.

Less than a week later she was back in the dock - this time on a charge of shoplifting.

She pleaded guilty to stealing a leg of lamb and a box of Magnum ice creams from Pak'nSave.