A Dunedin woman incited her partner’s suicide through 12 text messages sent over three months, but the details will remain under wraps for now.
The specific contents of the communications sent by 31-year-old Charlotte May Cole were suppressed by Judge David Robinson at the Dunedin District Court yesterday, at least until sentencing in May.
Cole this month pleaded guilty to the incitement charge, which carries a maximum penalty of three years’ imprisonment.
A copy of the summary of facts was to be released today but a court hearing was hastily arranged after counsel Deborah Henderson sought suppression of the messages.
She said their release would paint an inaccurate picture of what had occurred and potentially make her client "a target".
Court documents revealed the victim had a history of mental-health issues which stretched into his earlier life before he met Cole.
"The defendant claims she believed the victim threatened suicide as a way of making her stay in the relationship and the threats of suicide made the defendant fearful about trying to leave the relationship," the summary said.
Cole suffered mental-health problems too, and had tried to have them addressed, the court heard.
The man died in hospital on November 20, 2019, after spending five days on life support.
A police investigation found 12 messages sent by Cole from August 9 to November 15 that supported the charge.
Judge Robinson was wary of making the texts public.
"There’s a credible argument publication of the text messages sent by the defendant to the deceased could have some triggering effect for vulnerable parts of the community."
He appointed a lawyer to liaise with a suitable expert who could provide guidance to the court on the issue.
Final suppression would be determined at sentencing.
