At yesterday's hearing before coroner Peter Ryan, her close friend Julia Wareham said Beth was caught between her controlling parents and aunt. Julia said success in the ill-fated driving test could have freed Beth from the conflict of a bitter family rift. She had previously attended Havelock North High School but died soon after completing Year 12 as a boarder at Woodford House. McLean replied she had only allowed Beth to "have an opportunity to put across her concerns to her parents". Julia said Beth had told her that her aunt and parents had used this as a form of punishment or threat.

Source: New Zealand Herald July 04, 2017 20:03 UTC