Wellington, Dec 19 NZPA - A woman who hit her sister's ex-boyfriend with a baseball bat, causing spleen damage which led to his death, was today jailed for manslaughter.

Kathleen O'Sullivan, 44, was sentenced in the High Court in Wellington to 4-1/2 years' imprisonment for the manslaughter of James Brown.

She pleaded guilty last month, averting a murder trial.

The Crown said she hit Brown, 48, with a softball bat at least twice at a house in Lower Hutt on October 25 last year, damaging his spleen.

Brown and her sister had had a turbulent relationship and O'Sullivan visited him to tell him to stop telephoning her. A confrontation ensued and she hit him at least twice.

Mr Brown's spleen was enlarged because of liver problems and he died nine days later in hospital.

Mr Brown's identical twin John was in the public gallery with his brother's ashes in a small casket to see O'Sullivan face justice.

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