Stephanie Gouldstone

Homicide

2known / alleged victims

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Case Facts

Gender: female
Country: New Zealand
Location: Paritai Drive, Auckland, North Island, New Zealand
Date of birth: 1958
Age at first offence: 38
Characteristics: history of mental illness, nurse
Victim profile: Emerch Fuzes, 86, and his wife, Eva, 81
Method of murder: Beating
Date(s) of murder: August 17, 1996
Years active: 1996
Date of arrest: Same day
Status: Acquitted / overturned
Found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity on 13 June 1997; committed to Mason Clinic for an undetermined period of time

Case Summary

Case record: Stephanie Gouldstone

Background

Stephanie Gouldstone, 38, was employed by “Nurses with Hearts” and had also been a Catholic Nun. The Fuzes couple had engaged the private homecare agency “Nurses with Hearts” to provide 24 hour care, with nurses sent out to them on a roster basis so that someone was always there.

Emerch Fuzes (86) and his wife, Eva Fuzes (81), were originally from Budapest and had come to New Zealand in 1960. Friends described them as successful, hard working, and generous. Two years prior to their murders, they had both developed cancer and sold their business, which manufactured plastic tubing.

At the time of the offences, Stephanie Gouldstone had a mental disorder and had been treated for psychotic depression. While in police custody, she displayed psychotic tendencies and thought the Fuzes were evil forces in human form.

The offence

On 17 August 1996, the tranquility in Paritai Drive, Auckland, was broken by the news of the horrific murders of an elderly couple by their caregiver.

Stephanie Gouldstone went to look after Emerch and Eva Fuzes. She arrived at the Fuzes residence at 3:30 pm as the regular nurse was unable to complete her shift and Gouldstone was relieving for her.

Around 11:00 pm, a student nurse who was to start her next shift and relieve Gouldstone came upon Eva Fuzes’s body lying on the concrete steps outside the Paritai Drive home.

Stephanie Gouldstone admitted killing the couple, as she thought they were devils.

Investigation and discovery

The young nurse rushed next door and sought the help of the neighbours. Robert Cruickshank and his friend, Henry Brett, entered the house and found Gouldstone screaming at Emerch Fuzes while she used a chair to pin him to the ground.

Emerch Fuzes had been severely beaten and there was blood everywhere. Brett managed to contain Gouldstone while awaiting the arrival of the police, at the same time Cruickshank tried to comfort the old man, lying helpless on his hallway floor.

Police restrained a raving and kicking Gouldstone as they led her away for questioning.

Eva Fuzes was dead at the scene from a severe beating to the head and body. Emerch Fuzes died in Auckland Hospital four days later from head and body injuries caused by being kicked and beaten to death, and he never regained consciousness.

Arrest and custody

While in police custody, Stephanie Gouldstone displayed psychotic tendencies and thought the Fuzes were evil forces in human form.

Trial

Stephanie Gouldstone pleaded guilty to two counts of murder.

On Friday 13 June 1997, she was found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity.

Outcome

She was sent to Mason Clinic, a psychiatry unit, in Mt Albert, Auckland, where she will remain for an undetermined period of time.

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