A detective that led an investigation into the death of a Napier woman neglected by her daughter says the elderly woman lived in a disgusting environment.
Jo-Anne Quinn has been found guilty in a court of failing to provide the necessaries of life to her mother and has been remanded on bail for sentencing on 16 May. She faces a jail term of up to 10 years.
Maureen Quinn developed a maggot-infested ulcer after spending all her time living on a couch and died in 2011 after finally being taken to hospital. That only happened because Quinn's sister in Australia pressured her to ring a doctor.
Detective John McGregor described her living environment as tragic. "The couch where the elderly lady was sleeping on it was disgusting. There was dried and drying faecal material on it - it was not very nice at all."
Mr McGregor said the police officer who found Maureen Quinn was very moved by her words. She told him she couldn't remember the last time someone had touched her.
Mr McGregor said he knows of two other similar cases that police are investigating.
