Woman recants on fake evidence that put man in dock

File photo / NZH

A woman whose "litany of lies" led to a high-court trial over the death of her fiance has pleaded guilty to attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Karen Black, 49, of Hastings, appeared in the Hastings District Court yesterday and pleaded guilty to the indictably laid charge after a series of misleading interviews with police, following the death of her fiance, Shawn Ian Brooking.

Mr Brooking, 38, was assaulted on Karamu Rd, Hastings, early on Sunday, November 29, 2009, while he walked home with Black and his uncle, Andy Bell, 55.

Mr Brooking, who was found unconscious in the gutter, was flown to Wellington Hospital but died two days later.

After an interview with Black, Mr Bell was arrested at work on December 8 and charged with the manslaughter of his nephew.

His wrongful implication was based on claims made by Black, who had initially said Mr Brooking was struck by a stranger. After he died, she told police it was Mr Bell who had punched her partner as the two men walked behind her, arguing about the sale of a van, a version she repeated in a high-court trial in September.

After Black recanted her evidence at court in Napier, Mr Bell was discharged by Justice Jillian Mallon on the second day of his trial.

Black yesterday admitted lying and implicating Mr Bell.

She was remanded at large for indictable sentence in April.

Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Foster told Hawke's Bay Today that police were not seeking anyone else in connection with Mr Brooking's death.

"There was no fourth party involved," Mr Foster said. "No further charges are likely but this case hasn't been solved, so naturally we're still investigating."