Details of the violent morning were aired in the Dunedin District Court yesterday, when Joel Hamana Taniora (40) was sentenced on charges of strangulation, burglary, assault in a family relationship and two breaches of court orders.
She was awoken by the man raining down punches to her head.
He placed her hands around her neck and squeezed — causing her to lose consciousness.
Court documents revealed the attack lasted up to an hour, the man continuing to punch the victim in the face while intermittently strangling her.
Police called the attack "the worst of its kind".
"Your victim feared death," Judge David Robinson said.
Taniora left the address and was apprehended by police, despite trying to evade them by hiding behind a car and giving them false details.
The man initially pleaded not guilty, changing his plea "at the 11th hour" — three days before trial, the court heard.
Sentencing was previously delayed in order for the court to obtain an updated statement from the victim, but the woman had lost so much faith in the system, she did not provide one.
"The system has left her feeling that it effectively makes no difference. She feels as though it doesn’t matter," Judge Robinson said.
The victim’s physical injuries included painful grazing to her neck along with facial swelling, bruising and bleeding.
She suffered from PTSD, nightmares and constant worry.
"She is scared you will kill her," Judge Robinson said.
Taniora had previously strangled the woman only 15 months earlier and had been convicted of serious domestic violence charges in 2012, 2015 and 2019.
Counsel John Westgate acknowledged the man’s criminal history but questioned the victim’s actions.
"I’m certainly not in the habit of victim blaming but once he got out of jail, they rekindled their relationship ... Why a victim would do that is up to her," Mr Westgate said.
"Unfortunately, in this country we see it time and time again."
Judge Robinson placed the onus of Taniora’s actions on him alone, calling the night of violence the "highest level of offending" — drawing attention to the victim’s vulnerability.
"She was asleep, unaware of your entry, unable to do anything to protect herself once the attack began," he said.
"Her brain was starved of oxygen. I suspect if it had continued by a matter of minutes we would be looking at a homicide."
Strangulation was a "reliable indicator of a future fatal attack", abusers often using it to demonstrate their ability to kill while leaving little physical evidence behind, the court heard.
Taniora’s background revealed in his younger years he had suffered parental neglect along with exposure to domestic violence and drugs.
He was reportedly engaging well while in jail, completing rehabilitation programmes and providing "glimmers of hope" to the judge.
Taniora was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment.
