A man accused of murdering a mother-of-four by hitting her with a car on a rural property has pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter.
Jacqui Purton, who has also used the last name Bergman, died in March 2023 at Campania, about 35km north-east of Hobart.
James Kenneth Austin was initially charged with murdering the 37-year-old and has been in custody since the incident.
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Today he pleaded guilty to manslaughter in the Supreme Court of Tasmania in Hobart.
Austin admitted driving a car at Ms Purton, and being negligent and failing to take reasonable precautions to avoid danger to human life.
No further details were aired in court.
“I hope my daughter haunts you, you scum,” Purton’s mother yelled out in court at the conclusion of proceedings.
Austin, who was remanded in custody, will return to court on June 30 for sentencing submissions.
In a social media post shortly after Ms Purton’s death, her father Scott Purton said she would always be loved.
“My heart and my family’s hearts have been ripped apart,” he wrote.
“To my grandkids, words cannot express how your mum loved U (sic) all.”
A white Holden Commodore was towed from the property during initial police investigations.
Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).
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