Jean Louise Herholdt was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison for killing her husband, Sean Murray, in August 2020.
She had pleaded guilty to manslaughter and admitted to stabbing him in the back after he had been beaten. Herholdt, who was 30 at the time of the killing, will be eligible for parole after serving her sentence.
In his sentencing, Justice Peter Davis noted that Murray had a long history of domestic abuse. He also threatened his wife with a knife numerous times.
In a victim impact statement, which highlighted the pain that his family has suffered due to his death, Murray’s family said that they were still struggling with the loss of their loved one. Despite their sympathy, Herholdt was still convicted of killing him. During the incident, Herholdt had asked Murray to return a hidden money.
The judge noted that the money was very important to Herholdt, as it represented her desire to escape from Murray.
However, he also noted that it was not her lawful excuse for her actions. Herholdt did not intend to kill her husband. Her wound on his lung and artery was 15 centimeters deep.
Herholdt took immediate action to try and help her husband, as she knew that the injury was very serious.
The Crown prosecutor argued that Herholdt should be given a nine-year sentence due to her actions, which were motivated by retaliation rather than self-defense. Andrew Hoare, her lawyer, argued that her client should be released immediately.
The judge noted that Herholdt was suffering from a mental illness caused by her abusive childhood. She was also unlikely to commit further crimes due to her condition.
She was sentenced to spend seven and a half years in prison. Her parole eligibility period will begin on Friday.
Herholdt was not given additional penalties for her guilty pleas to possessing drugs and cannabis plants. S
he could be released after serving the rest of her sentence if she successfully applied for parole.