A lawyer for the children of a woman killed when she was run over by her husband has told a coroner's court there were shortcomings in the police investigation.
A police investigation into Ms Robinson-Winskill's death concluded it was a tragic accident. Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson
Denise Robinson-Winskill, 59, died after her husband Jon ran over her with his truck on the couple's lifestyle block in October 2013.
A police investigation into Ms Robinson-Winskill's death concluded it was a tragic accident.
But Richard Raymond, the lawyer for her children from a previous marriage, told the coroner's inquest today the investigation had serious shortcomings.
Mr Winskill should have at least faced a charge of careless use of a motor vehicle causing death and the lack of any charges was concerning, Mr Raymond said.
Ms Robinson-Winskill's sister, Juilenne Hide, told the court she thought Jon was in a rage when he reversed, and was intending to scare Denise but instead hit and killed her.
"I find it ironic that she was run over. Growing up, our father had a phobia about being run over, so we were always so careful around cars."
Ms Hide made an initial statement after her sister's death but made another last year because her perception of Mr Winskill changed.
"I have come to know Jon a lot more since the accident and I have not liked what I have learnt, therefore I wanted to make another statement, as I do not want my initial statement to be the record of what I think about him," Ms Hide told the court.
"He is a very intolerable man and had no patience."
She has come up with her own theory about what happened on the night of 23 October.
"That night, I think Denise was in the paddock with the lambs because the mother had not accepted them. I know she would have asked Jon to help her bring the lambs into the shed.
"I think he got angry and, in a rage, he reversed with the intention of scaring her, but instead he actually hit her," Ms Hide said.
"I struggle with the knowledge he ran over her twice. If he knew he had hit her straight away, why did he go forward again? That to me does not sound like an accident."
Mr Winskill sat quiet, shaking his head as Ms Hide read her statement.
"I think he is relieved Denise is no longer in his life; he started dating women straight away." Ms Hide said.
Mr Winksill's affair with a local woman just months before his wife's death was disclosed in court evidence yesterday. It was revealed he was blackmailed for money by the woman, so decided to tell his wife, but he said the affair only made their marriage stronger.
Mr Winskell has acknowledged he was back on a dating site two weeks after his wife's death.
'My mother's death was nothing but a tragic accident'
Ms Robinson-Winskill's daughter, Pheobe MacRae, told the court today she was surprised to hear of her stepfather's affair.
"I was shocked I did not know about it at the time. Mum was always appalled by his behaviour so I don't know why she didn't leave him.
"Jon's behaviour before and after my mother's death was shocking and proved she should have not been with him, but that was her decision." Ms MacRae said.
Crying in the dock, she said hearing about her mother's death was devastating.
"I thought I would be angry at Jon, but for my mother's sake I have tried to keep in touch with him because I know that is what she would have wanted.
"I honestly believe my mother's death was nothing but a tragic accident. I just want to move on and keep the memory of my mother alive," Ms MacRae told the court.
The coroner has reserved his decision.