Whitney Iraia-Burgess, a 33-year-old sex worker, was sentenced to three years and three months in prison for the manslaughter of Daniel Otess, a father of two, in a central Auckland carpark.
Iraia-Burgess claimed self-defense, asserting that the stabbing occurred after an assault by Otess, but the court found no evidence of rape or an attempt thereof. Justice Geoffrey Venning highlighted that the altercation began over money, leading to Iraia-Burgess slashing Otess with a knife she carried for protection. Despite her story of trying to escape during an alleged attack, CCTV footage contradicted her account, showing insufficient time for the events she described, leading to her conviction for manslaughter.
Otess, a night cleaner originally from Ghana, was described by his daughters in victim impact statements as a hardworking family man whose death left a void in two countries. Iraia-Burgess’s background of abuse and neglect was considered in sentencing, with her life described as “tragic” by Justice Venning. The sentencing also took into account her guilty plea and previous efforts at rehabilitation, although these did not alter the court’s view on the unreasonableness of her response to the situation.
Wouldn’t touch it with Yours
You’d have to be desperate
You don’t want to approach these kind of people, avoid them at all cost. Cross the street, walk the other way. Don’t interact with them.
3 years for murdering someone? Really?
You gotta be kidding!
THREE years for taking someone’s life, with a knife that that ‘b’ carried around with her!
What a sh*t ‘justice’ system!
You’ve got to be kidding!! A murderer gets 3 years but Graham Philip was sentenced to 3 years and 1 month for ‘sabotage’!! We really do live in a clown world!!
3 years for murder ??
Must have had a bad childhood so can do what I like.
Another disgusting sentence.
This must come to an end
Judges need to be held accountable.
Till then we are in trouble , criminals are safe.