Neighbour admits killing

Gary Chadderton. Photo / Alan Gibson

A Hamilton woman who used a borrowed hammer to kill her neighbour has pleaded guilty to murder.

But her admission of guilt has done little for the dead woman's former partner, who says his life is "no better now than it was 18 months ago".

The killer, who has interim name suppression, appeared this week in the High Court at Hamilton, where she pleaded guilty to the murder of her neighbour, Diane Elizabeth White.

The 41-year-old woman went to Ms White's Blackburn St home in Frankton on January 16 last year armed with a hammer borrowed from a friend, and used it to kill Ms White.

Ms White's former partner, Gary Chadderton, said the admission of guilt had saved him and Ms White's family the agony of a criminal trial.

But he said it still had not enabled him to move on with his life.

"It doesn't matter what happens, it's still not going to go away," he said.

Mr Chadderton said he was trying to find employment, but at 72 was finding things tough. He lived across the street from Ms White and still regrets not convincing her to move in with him.

"It's been a hard, long slog, and things are no better now than it was 18 months ago," he said.

"If anything, things have gotten worse."

The Waikato Times reported the accused said she was sorry for what she had done but she had been dealing with some personal issues at the time.

Her lawyer, Bruce Hesketh, said the overwhelming evidence against his client meant she had no choice but to plead guilty.

Neighbours had earlier told the Herald the pair argued frequently and that police and mental health authorities knew of the situation.

Ms White's killer has been remanded in custody to be sentenced in September.