Vic: Woman in boot, Maria Korp dies in hospital

AAP General News (Australia)
08-05-2005
Vic: Woman in boot, Maria Korp dies in hospital

MELBOURNE, Aug 5 AAP - A Melbourne woman left in a vegetative state after her husband's
lover tried to kill her, allegedly under instruction from him, has died in hospital after
feeding tube was withdrawn 10 days ago.

Maria Korp died in The Alfred Hospital just before 2am (AEST), Victorian Public Advocate
Julian Gardner said today.

The 50-year-old had been in a vegetative state since she was found unconscious in the
boot of her car near the Shrine of Remembrance in the city on February 13.

Mr Gardner said he did not believe any family members were with Mrs Korp when she died,
although they had visited earlier in the night after being told of her declining condition.

"I am advised that Mrs Korp died peacefully without pain after receiving best medical
practice palliative care," he said.

"Her condition was remarkably stable until yesterday evening when the hospital rang
me to say that there had been significant change."

Mr Gardner authorised doctors to withdraw the feeding tube that had been keeping her
alive on July 27 on advice that her condition was terminal and would not improve.

He predicted then that she would die within two weeks.

Mrs Korp's husband, Joe Korp, was this week ordered to stand trial on a charge of attempting
to murder his wife.

Korp, 48, has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted murder, conspiracy to murder
and intentionally causing serious injury to his wife.

A Victoria Police spokesman said today the homicide squad had not yet said whether
it would upgrade charges against him to murder following his wife's death.

Korp's former lover, Tania Herman, 38, admitted attempting to murder Mrs Korp on February
9 this year and is serving a minimum of nine years' jail.

Mr Gardner, who was appointed Mrs Korp's guardian in April, today said he had no regrets
about his decision to end her life.

"None whatsoever," he told ABC radio.

"I found this a very difficult time personally but the one thing that gives me comfort
is that we in the Office of the Public Advocate have been able to protect the interests
of this person whose disability meant that they couldn't protect themselves.

"One doesn't particularly welcome some of the uninformed negative comments but it's
important that I've sought to be accountable and explain as well as I could to the public
the decision that has to be made."

Mr Gardner said he was very satisfied with and appreciative of the medical team at
The Alfred hospital.

He said he had not yet spoken to Mrs Korp's doctor and could not comment on her cause of death.

"At this very sad time I offer my condolence and sympathies to all of the family and
friends of Mrs Korp," he said.

Ms Korp's second cousin Maria Vierira told Channel Nine that the family was devastated.

"We're all very upset and trying to compose ourselves the best we can," Ms Vierira said.

She said she had opposed Mr Gardner's decision to withdraw the feeding tube, and was
not told her condition had worsened.

"I opposed it all together," she said.

"I believed that she was in a type of a coma that she could sense that there were people
in the room because when I walked in and called her by her Portuguese name I could see
her vision coming down to the level where she could hear the voice coming from."

AAP jb/ce/lb/jlw

KEYWORD: KORP LEAD

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