A woman who stabbed her partner 22 times in the bath has admitted the murder, but will keep her name suppressed – for now.
A 61-year-old woman appeared via audiovisual link before Justice Cameron Mander in the High Court of Dunedin, in New Zealand's South Island, today.
The woman's interim name suppression, which included her occupation and where she worked, was continued until her sentencing on October 4.
She was taken into custody after reports of a death at her home in the Dunedin suburb of Tainui on May 18.
The police summary of the facts said the woman met Willis six years ago via an online dating site. She moved to Wellington to be with him.
The couple later headed south to settle in Dunedin about 17 months ago, and bought a three-bedroom home in Tainui.
The summary of facts noted her mental health deteriorated in the months before the murder, and she was on sick leave.
On the night of the murder, Willis came home from work about 4.30pm and, half an hour later, went to have a bath.
Around that time his partner, armed with a knife with a 10cm blade, entered the bathroom and stabbed him 22 times, slashing him six times.
One of those stab wounds severed an artery in Willis' upper torso area. Four damaged his lungs and another to his liver. Those stab wounds ranged from 1.1 to 11 centimetres deep.
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At 5.15pm, the woman messaged her children via Facebook, saying: "I love you guys – I'm sorry for what I've done''.
Two minutes later she transferred NZ $45,000 ($41,500) from her bank account to one of her children
At 5.18pm she rang 111 and spoke with police, admitting she had stabbed her partner to death. She advised the weapon was a knife and it was in the bathroom.
Police arrived at the scene at 5.27pm and arrested the woman, who was wearing a blood-stained top. She had several superficial cuts to her hands and fingers.
The victim was found dead in the bath.
The cause of death was attributed to blood loss as a result of the stab wounds.
