R v Rangi

Annie Rangi was convicted of manslaughter for fatally punching her mother, Aileen MacDonald, on December 28, 2014. The court accepted that the offender intended to cause serious harm, rendering the victim unconscious and causing her death from blunt force trauma to the head. Rangi left the scene and did not seek medical assistance. Rangi's offending was aggravated by the fact that the victim was particularly vulnerable and that Rangi struck her head on multiple occasions. Rangi had a history of abuse, which was a mitigating factor in the sentencing. The starting point for the sentence was set at seven years, but this was reduced to three years and six months to account for the offender's guilty plea, family history and provocation, remorse, and family circumstances. The court imposed a sentence of three years and six months imprisonment, along with a "three strikes" warning.

The court held that the purposes and principles of the Sentencing Act 2002 were achieved by the sentence imposed. The sentence held Rangi accountable for her actions, promoted a sense of responsibility, denounced her conduct, deterred her and others from similar offending, assisted in her rehabilitation, took into account the gravity of her offending and culpability, and was the least restrictive outcome appropriate in the circumstances.