The High Court at Hamilton.
Photo: RNZ / Edward Gay
Matamata man Roy Morton, 82, pleaded guilty in the High Court at Hamilton.
He attempted to kill his wife and himself on two occasions after she suffered a debilitating stroke in October last year.
He claimed that even though his wife was unable to verbally communicate with him he knew from her gestures that she wanted to die.
Justice Davison did not accept that due to Morton s lack of capability to understand.
He described Morton s actions as planned and pre-meditated and that Morton was vulnerable to exploitation.
Morton was motivated by his genuine compassion and love for his wife, Justice Davison said.
An 82-year-old Matamata man has been given home detention over the attempted murder of his wife in a suicide pact.
The judge agreed that Roy Morton has a deep emotional bond with his wife who suffered a severe stroke.
Photo: RNZ / Andrew McRae
Morton was distressed by his wife s condition after she suffered a debilitating stroke and did not believe she was being well looked after.
He said they agreed to a suicide pact as she wanted to end her life.
Morton tried twice to carry out the pact using piping from his car s exhaust but failed.
The first time was in his car in his garage; the second time it was at a road layby but he was spotted by a passing motorist, who called police. Morton drove off and ended up near Karapiro where he was intercepted by officers.
We felt like a piece of dirt - man who was abused in state care Andrew Mcrae
Warning: Graphic content in this story might be distressing to some readers.
A terminally ill man who spent time in state care and was abused says it is important that he tell his story to help stop the abuse of children continuing.
Desmond Hurring, 60, is of Pākeha, Māori (Ngāi Tahu) and Aboriginal descent.
He experienced sexual, physical and psychological abuse while at the Lookout Point Boys Home and the Kohitere Training Centre in the 1970s.
His problems started when he was sexually abused by a family friend. From that moment on his schooling suffered and he became very withdrawn.
Abuse in state care: Woman s suspicion about miscarriage validated during inquiry
6 May, 2021 09:57 PM
4 minutes to read
Warning: This story discusses graphic details of sexual violence.
A woman who was raped by a welfare home staff member and became pregnant has outlined her ordeal before the inquiry into abuse in care.
Neta Kerepeti was 13 when placed in the Bollard Girls Home in Auckland in 1974.
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She came to the attention of the Social Welfare Department at 12 years old.
On one occasion after running away she was picked up by a police officer and raped.
Her ordeal continued in the first foster home she stayed in and then at the Bollard Girls Home.