The mother of a New Zealand woman killed by her former partner on the Gold Coast in September 2015 has urged women in abusive relationships to seek help.
New Zealand man Lionel Patea was sentenced to life in prison yesterday after pleading guilty to murdering 24-year old Tara Brown, who was born in Ngaruawahia.
Patea ran her car off the road and bashed her repeatedly with a fire hydrant cover while she was trapped in the car.
Tara Brown's mother, Natalie Hinton, told reporters outside the courtroom she was grateful for the work of police and the supportive Australian public, and said women scared of their partners should not wait to become victims.
Melinda Howells from ABC News in Brisbane, was at court yesterday and says the trial, which had been set down for five days in the Supreme Court, was called off when Lionel Patea changed his plea.
