The High Court at Wellington has heard how a young woman, who shot and killed her mother's partner, had witnessed years of violence.
Daryl Kirk has today been sentenced to 12 months home detention for the manslaughter of Adam Watkins.
She fatally shot him during a heated argument in which he swung a meat cleaver at her face.
The court heard how he'd previously seriously assaulted a number of her boyfriends, friends and mother.
Her Lawyer Mike Antunovic said it's a unique case, where Kirk's culpability was at the low end of the spectrum.
"She was 19-years-old, she was a young woman who deserved, like all young people, to be cared for, protected for, and not subject to violence."
But there's fury from Mr Watkins' family that Daryl Kirk won't spend time behind bars.
In an emotional victim impact statement, Mr Watkins' sister Rachel told Kirk she'd stolen her brother's life.
"You disgust me and I despise you. I'm not usually the kind of person that feels this way towards anybody, but you have destroyed not only my brother, but the lives of the people I love most in this world, and I hope this haunts you forever."
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