A South Australian woman subjected to years of domestic violence and manipulation has been jailed for at least four-and-a-half years for running down and killing her husband.
In the District Court on Monday, Judge Gordon Barrett described the offending of Noelene Kenny as at the lower end of the scale for manslaughter.
The 39-year-old had pleaded guilty over the death of Edward John Baker, 43, in the state's north in February 2019.
"This incident was in the context of over 20 years of violence and abuse," Judge Barrett said.
It came amid arguments during a long drive home after the pair and another man had gone to buy alcohol.
Both Kenny and Mr Baker were drunk at the time. Kenny had pulled her husband's hair at one stage and he had pulled a knife on her.
The two men had got out of the car after it hit a kangaroo at which point Kenny got behind the wheel.
She initially drove off but then returned and drove towards the men, ultimately trapping Mr Baker under the engine block after he was unable to flee.
Judge Barrett said he accepted that, in the dark, Kenny might not have known Mr Baker had fallen over as he tried to get away.
He said she was immediately remorseful and horrified by what she had done.
The court heard that there had been longstanding problems between the pair during their 23-year marriage.
Both had been convicted of violence against each other and both had taken out and breached domestic violence orders against each other.
But Judge Barrett said welfare records also pointed to a string of complaints Kenny raised against her husband, including numerous reports of intimidation and emotional abuse.
He said despite seeking help from authorities, Kenny and her husband always ended up getting back together.
"The cycle of violence and abuse was repeated," the judge said.
He jailed Kenny for six years and five months and set a non-parole period of four years and six months, accepting there were special reasons justifying a shorter than mandated minimum term.
He also disqualified her from driving for 12 years.
