Cudby had strangled the woman more than 40 times over the course of their relationship, the court heard. Cudby then chased her with a spade, smashing a door in their Alexandra home, overpowering her before police arrived. Judge Elkin outlined how the abuse had started three months into the pair’s relationship and spanned 20 months. Judge Elkin said Cudby would be subject to a first strike under the new Three Strikes law. “If you commit a further serious offence, the consequences will be serious,” Judge Elkin told him.

Source: New Zealand Herald February 08, 2026 07:23 UTC