Woman who killed abusive partner loses appeal

File photo / NZ Herald

A woman who stabbed her abusive partner to death has had an appeal against her sentence denied.

Stacey Nancy Woods was sentenced to four years in jail in the High Court in Gisborne on June 10 this year after she admitted killing her partner Douglas Leslie James Tukotanui Tupaea at their home last year.

The pair had been together for about 10 years, and had two children together.

After a night of drinking, arguing and domestic violence on May 21 last year, Ms Woods stabbed her partner twice in the chest.

By the time ambulances arrived, Mr Tupaea had died.

Ms Wood's lawyer lodged an appeal against the prison sentence on the "basis it was manifestly excessive".

The application said the Judge did not give a sufficient discount for pleading guilty to manslaughter, and insufficient weight was given for remorse and other personal mitigating circumstances.

The Court of Appeal ruled that the sentence given by the Judge was not manifestly excessive, and dismissed the appeal.