Pair get 23 years' jail over woman's death

Joseph Proude. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Two South Auckland caregivers who regularly assaulted an intellectually impaired woman, then left her without medical help for several days until she died, have been sentenced to a total of 23 years in jail.

Joseph Proude, 48, was sentenced to a total of 11 years and three months in prison, and Here Teinakirai, 53, to a total of 11 years and nine months.

Both were found guilty in March of the manslaughter of Patricia Joseph, whose body was found floating in the Wairoa River near Clevedon, south of Auckland, by kayakers on January 20, 2008.

Teinakirai was found guilty of a second manslaughter charge by omitting to seek medical care for Ms Joseph, and of offering an indignity to her body, which was wrapped in pieces of cloth, weighed down with a rock and put into the river.

She was also found guilty of six charges of assault on Ms Joseph, three charges of assault with intent to injure and two charges of assault with a weapon, using a stick and a hose.

Proude was also found guilty of five charges of assault on Ms Joseph and one charge of assault, using a dog as a weapon.

The assault charges dated from October 2006, when they took over Ms Joseph's care.

Sentencing the pair in the High Court at Auckland, Justice Pamela Andrews pointed out the significant aggravating factor that Patricia Joseph was completely vulnerable because of her special needs and dependent on them as caregivers.

"You both subjected Ms Joseph to assaults while she was living with you, and you have not shown any remorse for her death," Justice Andrews said.

"You have both been convicted on a number of charges as well as the manslaughter charge. Your sentence must reflect that."

- NZPA