Beaten woman 'looked as if she had been in a crash'

Last updated 05:00 25/03/2010

A woman found dead in a cupboard in the house she shared with her alcoholic partner suffered multiple injuries comparable to being in a high-speed car crash, a coroner has found.

Mihi Tuhoro, 48, died between July 1 and July 20, 2008. She had been in a relationship with her killer, Malcolm Ngeru, and they were living in a flat in Farmer Cres in Lower Hutt.

Ngeru was later convicted of her murder and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum non-parole period of 12 years.

Coroner Ian Smith said their lifestyle was based around daily drinking sessions, which took place in various flats.

The day Ms Tuhoro was attacked they had both been drinking in an upstairs flat. Ms Tuhoro had remained after Ngeru left but then returned to their flat despite being warned not to.

She was then severely beaten. Mr Smith said she probably survived for a short time before dying of her injuries, which had caused respiratory failure.

Ngeru hid her in a cupboard and left the flat. He told police where she was a month later.

Mr Smith said the blows inflicted on Ms Tuhoro were extremely violent, "similar to the damage that can be sustained from a high-speed motor accident".

He said it appeared Ngeru kicked or stomped on her chest and head, sufficient to fracture her skull, ribs and sternum.

From: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/3502139/Beaten-woman-looked-as-if-she-had-been-in-a-crash