Elizabeth Smith pleads guilty to manslaughter in property dispute
Photo:
RNZ / Simon Rogers
An Auckland accountant previously charged with the murder of a man after driving her vehicle into him during a dispute, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
Elizabeth Lynn Smith pleaded guilty before Justice Downs at the High Court in Auckland on Wednesday, after the Crown reduced the charge to manslaughter this week following a period of discussions.
Smith and the victim Dean Fifield had previously lived together and were involved in an ongoing dispute over items Smith had claimed ownership over but were stored at Fifield's house, an agreed summary of facts stated.
On 13 June 2024 Smith went to Fifield's house in West Auckland to recover property, with two associates who were there to help her.
Smith and her associates got involved in a dispute with Fifield over the items in the driveway of the house.
Smith's associates later reversed out of the driveway and stopped on the roadside, while Smith's car remained in the driveway facing the road.
At one point, Fifield followed the associate's vehicle on foot and "began punching the associate's stationery vehicle with his closed fist, causing damage to the windscreen," according to the summary of facts.
Subsequently, Smith drove her vehicle directly into Fifield, which propelled him onto the bonnet before falling under the front of Smith's vehicle.
Smith continued to drive a short distance with Mr Fifield underneath her vehicle.
He was pronounced dead at the scene by attending paramedics.
Smith is set to be sentenced in August.
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