Julia DeLuney's lawyer won't say if she will appeal murder conviction
Photo:
RNZ / Mark Papalii
It is not yet known if Julia DeLuney, found guilty of murdering her mother, plans to appeal the conviction.
On Wednesday night, following a four-week murder trial at the High Court in Wellington, the jury found DeLuney
guilty of murdering her mother
, 79-year-old Helen Gregory.
Gregory was
killed at her Baroda Street home
in Khandallah in January last year.
DeLuney had denied killing her mother, and through the trial her lawyer Quentin Duff argued that the police investigation had been "one-eyed" and they had failed to consider anyone else for the murder.
But the jury was more convinced by the Crown's argument that DeLuney was at the house that night and had been the one to kill her mother.
After the verdict was handed down DeLuney cried silently in the dock, but otherwise remained stony faced.
Photo:
RNZ / Mark Papalii
Duff later told RNZ DeLuney was "devastated" by the jury's decision.
When asked, he could not say whether she'd look to appeal or not.
DeLuney has been remanded in custody and is expected to be sentenced on 5 September.
Detective senior sergeant Tim Leitch, who led the police investigation, told media outside the court that he hoped the guilty verdict provided Gregory's friends and family with some answers and certainty as they moved forward with their lives.
"Many of them have been in court every day over the past month, and have sat through the most difficult and confronting evidence" which, he said, "must have been almost unbearable at times".
"The dignity, compassion and support the family have demonstrated every day of the trail has been incredible, and also quite remarkable," he said.
Helen Gregory
Photo:
Supplied
Gregory's friend Liz Askin was one of those who sat through the trial.
She described her friend as an intelligent, kind, and generous woman who was full of vitality.
"She loved her family deeply, following their achievements and going to their sporting events and family gatherings," and it was "with great sadness that her life was cut short".
Cheryl Thomson was another of Gregory's friends who had been at the court every day after giving evidence herself.
"This is the place we come to for justice in New Zealand and I am pleased we have now got it," she said.
"Helen is sadly missed by all of us, holds a special place in our hearts and will never be forgotten."
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