A woman accused of trying to kill her husband with a sledgehammer was today found not guilty by reason of insanity by a judge in the Wellington High Court.
The woman, who has permanent name suppression, pleaded not guilty at a hearing before Justice Goddard, to alternative charges of attempted murder and causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
The attack took place at the woman's home in Wellington on September 3, 2002, and for more than a year she was thought unfit for the charge to proceed.
Justice Goddard told the court today that she alone was able to determine a verdict of not guilty on grounds of insanity under the new Criminal Procedure Mentally Impaired Persons Act, which came into force this year.
Two psychiatric consultants had provided overwhelming opinion that the woman should remain a special patient, the judge said.
Ken Stone, for the Crown, told the judge that not guilty on grounds of insanity would be a reasonable verdict if the case went to trial.
Justice Goddard ordered the woman be detained in a hospital as a special patient.
- NZPA
Woman not guilty of attempted murder by reason of insanity
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