Warning: Some details of this story may be distressing.
A woman has pleaded guilty to murdering her terminally ill and severely disabled daughter in Napier.
The courthouse in Napier Photo: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King
At the city's high court this morning, Cherlyene May Lawrence, 49, admitted killing 28-year-old Chevana Marie Fox.
The summary of facts released after her plea stated that Fox, who had suffered from juvenile Huntington's disease from the age of 16, was confined to a wheelchair and needed 24-hour care.
The illness is a rare, early-onset form of the incurable neurological condition, which causes brain cells to break down.
Her medical treatment was palliative, aiming to promote comfort and safety, rather than prolonging life. She was approaching the end of her life.
'Outbursts of Crying'
Caring for Fox was difficult, as she needed constant supervision, was unable to read or write and had difficulty talking.
She needed help showering and eating and wore disposable nappies, often had outbursts of crying for no reason, lashing out at those caring for her by kicking and hitting, and also suffered from significant delusions, and acted as if they were real.
Fox had previously been in full-time care at two facilities in Hastings. More recently, she had been cared for at the region's mental health unit.
She was discharged from the mental health unit into the care of her mother at her home in the Napier suburb of Pirimai on 30 November 2020.
'No Quality of Life'
Care provider Community Connections was contracted to provide care for Fox and assistance for her mother, seven days a week.
While the daily care was consistent, there were difficulties getting regular overnight care.
Lawrence would often remain awake throughout the night, sometimes even when caregivers were there, as she was worried her daughter would attack them.
She became sleep-deprived and her mental health declined.
From mid-December, Lawrence became despondent at Fox's lack of quality-of-life and expressed concern that having her at home was "not working".
She sent text messages to her mother, such as "How are you feeling today? I feel f***ed. Having Chev here. is actually. Quite s***. She's got no quality of life, just cries most of the time. F*n tiring".
On 4 January she wrote in a text "I'm gonna end up killing Chevana. I've had. Enough".
On 17 January, Lawrence received a text from a friend asking how the caregiving situation was going.
She responded: "Things are good atm. At least I get time out and sleep at night now".
On 31 January two carers arrived for a day shift but her daughter was sleeping, so Lawrence sent them home.
That night, there was a misunderstanding with the nightshift carer, so no carer was available, leaving Lawrence without any support.
She spoke to the service co-ordinator for Community Connections on the same day about the possibility of not needing any support from the organisation and did not say why.
The service co-ordinator was concerned and suggested Lawrence think about it over the weekend.
'Just Flipped Out'
At 7.30am the next day, the dayshift carer arrived for her shift. About 8.30am, Lawrence called the care co-ordinator and said she wished to continue the support contract.
About 10.20am, Lawrence told the day carer she could go as Fox was still sleeping. The carer had been rostered to work until 2pm.
While Chevana was sleeping on her bed in the lounge, Lawrence decided she was going to kill Fox and herself.
She strangled Fox, but changed her mind on suicide.
About 11.40am, after several minutes of panic, Lawrence called 111, telling the dispatcher "I just flipped out and strangled her. Strangled my daughter. She's dead".
The dispatcher explained to Lawrence how to perform CPR. Lawrence replied "the trouble is, I, I did it on purpose". However, she carried out CPR for about six minutes.
A short time later, an ambulance arrived and Fox was taken to hospital. She was diagnosed with a brain injury following cardiac arrest, caused by strangulation.
There was no neurological improvement to her condition and the brain injury was not survivable.
She died at Hawke's Bay Hospital on 28 February.
'Cracks of the system'
Lawrence told police she had been up for the most of the night with her daughter and it had been a long time since she slept properly.
She said her intention was "for her to be gone and me too".
"Her quality of life was not there and if there was any form of euthanasia or anything like that, she would have been euthanised already. She falls through the cracks of the system and everything, it's like just an overwhelming thing that came over me and it's just like there's a losing situation all the time."
Lawrence also said her daughter had been trying to kill herself.
"She was suffering, trying to kill herself everyday, trying to to grab whatever it was, but I had to clear heaps of stuff out of the house cos [sic] she kept wanting to hurt herself with it and you know, when you are watching this every day and she didn't want to be around either."
The summary said Lawrence had no relevant, previous convictions.
Justice Cheryl Gwyn granted Lawrence bail.
She is due to reappear before the court for sentencing on 5 November.
Where to get help:
Need to Talk? Free call or text 1737 any time to speak to a trained counsellor, for any reason.
Lifeline: 0800 543 354 or text HELP to 4357
Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 / 0508 TAUTOKO (24/7). This is a service for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends.
Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 (24/7) or text 4202
Samaritans: 0800 726 666 (24/7)
Youthline: 0800 376 633 (24/7) or free text 234 (8am-12am), or email talk@youthline.co.nz
What's Up: online chat (3pm-10pm) or 0800 WHATSUP / 0800 9428 787 helpline (12pm-10pm weekdays, 3pm-11pm weekends)
Kidsline (ages 5-18): 0800 543 754 (24/7)
Rural Support Trust Helpline: 0800 787 254
Healthline: 0800 611 116
Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155
OUTLine: 0800 688 5463 (6pm-9pm)
If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.
