“Should be do this [racial expletive] over…????” she had messaged another person on Facebook after arranging the meeting, suggesting that they “take his car and all of his stuff, ayy”.
Amy Joy Parker appears in the dock at Auckland District Court during her first appearance on a murder charge in October 2024. She pleaded guilty in March 2026 to manslaughter. Photo / Craig Kapitan
Al-Obaidy picked up Parker in his BMW X5 station wagon around 9pm after having purchased beer, wine and cigarettes and having withdrawn $100 cash, court documents state. The two went to one of Al-Obaidy’s vacant rental homes in Unsworth Heights before picking up two other people under the pretence of attending a party together around 10.30pm.
Shortly thereafter, the planned robbery occurred.
“As they were driving, Mr Al-Obaidy repeatedly asked the defendants not to hurt him,” according to the police summary of facts that only Parker has agreed to.
The victim parked the BMW adjacent to Pt England Reserve. Details of what is alleged to have happened next are temporarily suppressed, but the result was that Al-Obaidy suffered two potentially fatal injuries: a single stab wound to his abdomen and crush-type injuries from being run over.
“Ms Parker remained in the front passenger seat throughout the incident,” the summary of facts that she agreed to states. “She did not have a weapon.”
Amy Parker appears in the High Court at Auckland in 2024, weeks after she was charged with murder. Photo / Michael Craig
In addition to manslaughter, Parker pleaded guilty today to aggravated robbery. In addition to his vehicle, the victim’s wallet, iPhone and dash cam had been stolen, along with a ring containing “a large number of keys for Mr Al-Obaidy’s business premises”.
The next day, CCTV captured Parker crying and later police came to learn that she had been discussing turning herself in. But she never took the initiative, and in the end it was police who arrested Parker after putting together pieces of the puzzle several days later.
In a subsequent police interview, she admitted being present during the homicide but lied about other aspects of the case. She said she wanted to get help for Al-Obaidy but was unable to.
During today’s brief hearing, Parker laced her fingers together at her waist as she pleaded guilty to both charges. She now faces up to 14 years’ imprisonment for aggravated robbery and up to life imprisonment for manslaughter.
Unlike murder convictions, manslaughter does not result in an automatic life sentence. On rare occasions, it has resulted in non-custodial sentences.
Justice Michael Arthur set a tentative sentencing date for late May but indicated the hearing will likely be postponed to a later date.
Craig Kapitan is an Auckland-based journalist covering courts and justice. He joined the Herald in 2021 and has reported on courts since 2002 in three newsrooms in the US and New Zealand.
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