He threatened to kill her. He shot her in the head. But he's not guilty of her murder.

by Mamamia Team May 14, 2015

After a torrent of domestic abuse Nelson Lai shot his girlfriend in the head. Yesterday the court delivered its verdict.

A man who shot his girlfriend in the head after years of domestic abuse has been found not guilty of murder.

Instead, 35-year-old Nelson Lai was found guilty of the lesser crime of manslaughter — despite shocking evidence showing Rekiah O’Donnell suffered violent abuse from Lai during their relationship, and despite evidence showing Lai had threatened to kill Rekiah so many times she was terrified of him.

On October 11 2013, Nelson Lai finally did it. At 9am that morning, he shot Rekiah O’Donnell in the head with a gun.

Rekiah O’Donnell

He said he didn’t mean it, despite the fact that he often beat her. He claimed it was “an accident”.

And yet, despite repeated cases similar to this, despite 24 women dying this year alone in Australia from domestic violence or alleged domestic violence, yesterday a court believed his claims.

Post continues after gallery:

On 13 May, a woman died after allegedly being stabbed in the stomach with a star picket by a relative in Katherine, NT.

The name of a woman murdered in Dallas has not been released. A 49-year-old man has been charged with her murder.

Linda Locke, 51, died in an alleged domestic violence incident on Monday 27 April. Her de facto partner Jamie Walker, 46, has been charged.

On 25 April, an 18-year-old woman was killed in an alleged domestic violence incident in NSW. A man has been charged with murder.

Daniela D'Addario, whose boyfriend Josaia Vosikata has been charged with murder.

Julie Hutchinson, whose husband Michael Hutchinson has been charged with murder.

Salwa Haydar. Her husband has been charged with her murder.

Mai Mach.

Mai Mach. Mai's husband's former mistress has been charged with murder.

June Wallis. Her husband has been charged with her murder.

Sabah Al Mdwali.

Her husband has been charged with her murder.

Jackie Ohide. Her partner has been charged with her murder.

Angela Mackinnon.

Angela Mackinnon. murder.

Kris Deann Sharpley. Her father killed himself and his grandson in a murder-suicide.

Dianne Chi.

Tara Costigan. Her ex-partner has been charged with murder.

Ainsur Isamgul. Her husband has been charged with murder.

Kerry Michael. Her husband has been charged with murder.

Adele Collins. Her ex-partner has been charged with murder.

Fabiana Palhares. Her ex-partner has been charged with her murder.

Renee Carter.

Renee Carter. Her ex-husband has been charged with murder.

Leila Alavi. Her estranged husband has been charged with murder.

Nikita Chawla. Her husband has been charged with murder.

Rinabel Tiglao. Her partner has been charged with murder.

Ruth Dodd. Her daughter has been charged with murder.

During the court case, lawyers for Lai claimed that he had been ‘coming down’ from the drug ice when he picked up a gun and pulled the trigger. He said he did not know it was loaded, and claimed that he was minding the weapon for a friend.

Rekiah died on the floor of his bedroom at his parent’s house.

Lai tried to resuscitate Ms O’Donnell. He phoned Triple 0, saying: “I shot my girlfriend in the head by accident… I didn’t know there was anything in it (the gun).”