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Terrance Kiro sentenced for the manslaughter of Kaikohe grandmother Linda Woods
A sexually motivated burglary which ended in a fatal struggle took the life of a much-loved mother, grandmother, sister and auntie, a court has heard.
Linda Woods, 72, died in the late-night incident in her family home in the Northland town of Kaikohe on 1 June, 2023.
A man who lived on her street, Terrance Lowe Kiro, was sentenced on Tuesday to more than three years in jail for her manslaughter, along with burglary and two counts of aggravated assault.
The High Court at Whangārei heard how Kiro entered the home – where Woods, her daughter, two granddaughters and her 3-year-old great-grandchild lived – for his own sexual gratification.
Despite being 72 and on dialysis, Woods got involved in confronting Kiro during the incident, with three of the women trying to stop him from escaping.
In the ensuing struggle, her dialysis valve was pulled out, resulting in a fatal amount of blood loss.
Kiro escaped from the scene before Woods died. He was later arrested and late last year he pleaded guilty to the charges.
In a break in protocol, Justice Christian Whata allowed Woods’ family to say a karakia at the start and end of the sentencing and, at times, spoke to them in te reo Māori.
Victim impact statements read by Woods’ whānau told how she was a rock for the whole family but spoke also of forgiveness and empathy for Kiro’s family.
Daughter Tania Rauti said Woods was dedicated to her family, including her six children whom she raised solo, 13 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
“She was 72 and on dialysis but she said she would fight to the death for any of us. Like a lioness, she has fulfilled that promise.”
Rauti encouraged Kiro to change his life in light of Woods’ death.
“I do not hate you but I hate your thoughts and actions. I do not have to live with the pain of what you did that night – you do.”
Terrance Lowe Kiro was sent to jail for three years and seven months for the manslaughter of Linda Woods but accepted no sentence would be long enough to bring her back. Photo: Supplied / Northern Advocate / Peter de Graaf
Jazzinda Cumming said her nan was her best friend and her biggest supporter.
She told Kiro he had caused unimaginable broken hearts and trauma.
“My nan always taught me to forgive and move on so, Terrance Kiro, I forgive you – not for your actions but to help myself and gain peace.”
Thorne Cumming also described his grandmother as a friend whom he could talk to about anything.
“Losing nan has left a hole. She was my rock, my queen, my everything – she was this for everyone in the family.”
Another daughter, Jasmine Woods, shared how her mother helped look after her two children so she and her husband could go back to work.
Telling her children, aged 7 and 9 at the time, about the loss of their nan was the hardest part, she said.
Woods was not only dedicated to her family, she was also well-respected in Kaikohe, where she spent two decades as the friendly AA licensing agent, Jasmine Woods said.
Kiro accepted no sentence would be long enough
Kiro shared his remorse for Woods’ death and deep sense of whakamā (shame) through his lawyer, Catherine Cull KC.
“I have instructions from Mr Kiro and Mr Kiro’s whānau to say that we all come from the Kaikohe community and we have all suffered your loss,” she said.
“He has asked me to say that no sentence will be long enough because it will never bring your mother, your grandmother, back.”
Justice Whata also acknowledged the loss felt by Woods’ whānau.
“She was beautiful, loving and she would help everyone. She was the rock and voice of reason for her whānau and to lose her in the way that she died was especially painful,” he said.
“I acknowledge your words of forgiveness expressed in your victim impact statements: this truly is a testament to the mana of your mother and whānau.”
However, the judge also acknowledged the genuine remorse of Kiro and said the incident was out of character for the 53-year-old, who has spent the past 26 years looking after his elderly mother.
Justice Whata described the incident as a fight-or-flight manslaughter, where victims unexpectedly confronted have a fight-or-flight response that leads to their death.
While Kiro did not intend to cause harm, he had observed the home and knew the vulnerable people inside, approaching the house for sexual gratification where harm to others would always be a risk, the judge said.
“The threat presented by you, late at night in their home, would’ve been terrifying for the family.”
In sentencing Kiro, the judge began with a starting point of six years, six months in prison, giving discounts for his remorse, good character, ability to be rehabilitated and guilty plea.
The end sentence was for a prison term of three years, seven months.
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The chief executive of the Parliamentary Service is confident there will be enough room to accommodate the increased number of MPs and their staff coming into Parliament.
On current numbers, up to 131 MPs could be sitting in the Chamber following the election, brought on by a record overhang result.
Clerk of the House of Representatives Dr David Wilson told the Spinoff that currently the debating chamber had enough chairs to seat 124 MPs – including the Speaker of the House – and work was being done to accommodate more by altering the seating arrangement.
In a statement, Parliamentary Service chief executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero said planning for a larger Parliament had been going for “some time”.
“Now that the election results have confirmed an increase to the number of members we are looking at several options.
“We are confident we will be able to accommodate all members within the Chamber.”
VNP / Phil Smith
Gonzalez-Montero said office accommodation for members and their staff would be “stretched” for a short time, but the new Members’ Building was only a few months away from “practical completion”.
That building – located behind Parliament – was due to be ready to occupy in April next year and had capacity to accommodate around 30 backbench MPs.
“All members should be in fit-for-purpose accommodation from that point,” Gonzalez-Montero said.
Following the 2023 election, 123 MPs sat in the Chamber – a record number at the time. That decreased to 122 following the resignation of National MP Judith Collins.
Collins held the seat of Papakura and stepped down in May and Parliament voted against holding a by-election because it was too close to the election.
The election result also meant high-ranking National Party MPs like Chris Bishop, Paul Goldsmith, Nicola Willis and Gerry Brownlee – Speaker of the House and an MP for 30 years – would likely not make it back into Parliament.
Only resigning or retiring MPs were permitted to give a valedictory speech meaning none of them would get the chance to give a valedictory statement.
Asked if their would be special allowances for valedictories, Wilson said in a statement that normally only MPs were allowed to speak in the House but the House could suspend its own rules or temporarily alter them.
“It could do so to allow former members to address the House.”
Wilson said no such arrangements could be made until the next Parliament opened and members sworn in.
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