KEY POINTS:
A woman drove into her partner while he sat in his wheelchair after she "snapped" during a heated argument that spilled out on to the street.
Molly Te Mari Paki of Papamoa ploughed into the man so hard the impact sent him careering out of his chair and onto a neighbour's front lawn.
Police found the victim on the ground being consoled by neighbours as Paki shouted profanities at him.
Paki, 38, pleaded guilty to one charge of assault with a blunt weapon and theft when she appeared in Tauranga District Court yesterday.
She will be sentenced next month.
The court was told that while the force of blow did not cause serious injury to Paki's victim, his $957 wheelchair had to be written off as it was crushed and its wheels buckled.
The assault occurred on January 24 when Paki and her 52-year-old partner, who had been in a relationship for 15 years, began arguing about her plans to go to Australia for a holiday.
They exchanged obscenities and abuse before the victim, from his wheelchair, threw some crutches towards Paki before abusing her and wheeling off down the driveway from the open garage.
Paki then jumped into her car and quickly reversed down the driveway to drive off.
But once she reached the roadway and saw her partner on a neighbour's verge making his way towards an open gate in the fence, she sped up on the verge and crashed into him.
The speed of the crash forced his wheelchair up against the side of the gate post and sent her victim careering forward onto the front lawn.
Paki reversed the car, parked in front of the garage and went to see how her victim was.
Police, who had received numerous calls, were on the scene in minutes and found the victim still on the ground being consoled by neighbours. Paki was shouting profanities from the driveway.
Police calmed matters. Ambulance staff treated Paki's victim for a graze to his left shin and another under his right arm.
Paki was in an agitated state and was taken to the police station. She told an officer she had had enough of her partner and was tired of his constant abuse and put-downs.
Paki said she had just snapped and jumped in the car to "get him". She had wanted to hit her victim but not hurt him.
The theft relates to Paki stealing two tops valued at $20 from a shop at Fashion Island on January 27. Paki told police said she was "wasted" and does not know where the stolen items are.
Judge Christopher Harding remanded Paki on bail for a pre-sentence report and sentencing on June 12.2.
- BAY OF PLENTY TIMES
