💔 LATEST UPDATE: An Australian Woman Breaks Down in Court as a Long-Running Family Tragedy Reaches Its Final Chapter — But One Detail Is Still Ha-unting Many
A woman who fatally ran down her abusive ex-husband has sobbed as she learned she could be released from prison in a few months.
Samantha Hooker accelerated towards her ex-husband Peter, mounting a pavement and pinning him against the wall of a home at Schofields in Sydney‘s west on August 8, 2023.
Mr Hooker suffered serious injuries and died from sepsis more than three weeks later.
On Friday, Ms Hooker – a 47-year-old former pathology worker – was seen sobbing next to a support person in the dock at the NSW Supreme Court as she was sentenced.
Justice Hament Dhanji found Mr Hooker engaged in a continuing campaign of intimidation and provocation against his partner, leading her to feel powerless as he refused to end the relationship.
This powerlessness transformed into anger and rage, leading her to lose control during the confrontation in August 2023, the judge found.
Mr Hooker’s abuse of alcohol and illegal drugs, including drug supply, added to his spouse’s mental strife, he said.
‘What can be said … is that the relationship was toxic,’ Justice Dhanji said.
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Samantha and Peter Hooker before she snapped and ran him over after his campaign of abuse
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Samantha Hooker (centre) could be released from prison in a few months after she pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter
He took into consideration those circumstances when he reduced Ms Hooker’s sentence, imposing a maximum term of three years and nine months.
Her two-year non-parole period was backdated to account for the time already served in custody and home detention, meaning Ms Hooker will be eligible for release on November 22.
She was found not guilty of murder in March after a jury heard she had experienced extreme provocation and a significant mental impairment following years of abuse.
Ms Hooker pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter.
On the day she ran over her ex-husband, Ms Hooker drove to his home and was physically violent towards him, Justice Dhanji heard in April.
Drone footage played to the court during the trial showed the route she took driving at her ex-husband.
Tyre marks were seen on the pavement while the silver hatchback with Medlab Pathology branding was smashed against the side of the brick house.
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SOURCE: DAILYMAIL
