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The grieving widow of good Samaritan Austin Hemmings has had an emotional meeting with the woman her husband died trying to protect.
Jenny Hemmings fought back tears as she described the "hardest day" in the week-and-a-half since her husband of 25 years was fatally stabbed in central Auckland.
The woman, whose name is suppressed, was supported by relatives when she visited the Hemmings' North Shore home last week to thank Jenny and the couple's three children - Meghann, 19, Jessica, 17, and Gareth, 16 - for Austin's actions.
"It was gut-wrenching," said Jenny. "That's the hardest day. She took us to that place that night. It was horrible but it gave us more details."
Austin, a 44-year-old New Zealand Insurance branch manager, was stabbed after helping the woman who was shouting for help on Mills Lane on the evening of September 25.
Jenny said she had to meet the woman to help her stop grieving for someone she didn't know.
"She was so thankful. She was calling him her guardian angel. She got to see Austin in the coffin. It was very healing."
For the Hemmings, it was a chance to tell the woman she was not at fault.
"We wanted her to know she wasn't responsible for Austin's death," Jenny said. "She had no idea there was going to be a stabbing.
"She needed to see me and talk about it because she felt responsible."
Since Austin's funeral, attended by 1000 people, family and friends have continued supporting Jenny and her children. Sister-in-law Fiona McKinlay said they had spent hours "crying and sharing" but feel "peaceful".
Now the family wanted to see justice done.
Jenny wanted to thank students at Takapuna Grammar, the school she teaches at and Gareth attends, their church, the police and complete strangers who had supported and prayed for the devout Christian family.
"We know that he's in heaven," Jenny said. "It's a huge comfort. I see Austin in heaven rejoicing seeing some people have come to God through this. There is a bigger picture. It pulls us up."
Jenny and Austin met and fell in love in the carpark of the Matamata Baptist Church when Austin "zoomed" into the carpark for youth group. Since then the couple have enjoyed raising a family, social netball and beach holidays.
Jenny said Austin kissed her every morning and hugged his children every day. The family moved from Hamilton nine months ago into their Auckland dream home, a modern villa with wooden floorboards bought because of Jenny's allergies.
"I'm going to miss him so much," she said. "He was a superbly kind person. He was a really cool guy, very witty. He'd make you laugh."
Jenny remembered times of financial struggle, especially when she was a stay-at-home mum, but they pulled together and their love grew stronger.
"It's like writing little chapters of your life. Sadly, the last chapter has seen him taken away. It was a lovely long chapter of 25 years.
"We've written a lovely book together. I was looking forward to growing old with him," Jenny cried, hugging her brother, Callum McKinlay, who has flown from Taiwan to be by her side.
A 45-year-old sickness beneficiary with name suppression has been arrested and charged with assault. He is expected to face a murder charge when he reappears in court.
