R v Feng - [2026] NZHC 2563

Hao Feng sentenced to a term of four years and two months' imprisonment for the manslaughter of his partner by manual strangulation. The Court imposed a starting point of seven years' imprisonment, having regard to the aggravating factors present (harm caused to others; vulnerability of the neck; breach of trust within an intimate partner relationship; and failure to seek medical assistance), comparable decisions, and the leading cases on non-fatal strangulation, Shramka v R [2022) NZCA 299, [2022) 3 NZLR 348, and non­fatal serious violent offending, R v Taueki [2005) 3 NZLR 372 (CA). Total allowances of 40 per cent granted comprising reductions for guilty pleas (20 per cent); remorse (five per cent); hardship in being imprisoned as a foreign national speaking no English (five per cent); and personal circumstances including the impact of the offending on the defendant's children (10 per cent).