Convicted killer recalled to prison after breaching parole

Life parolee Melissa Anne Wepa has been recalled to prison. Photo / Thinkstock

A convicted killer who breached her parole conditions has been recalled to prison.

Life parolee Melissa Anne Wepa spent 15 years behind bars after killing a friend who dobbed her in to police.

The 41-year-old stabbed Porirua woman Caroline Gardiner 50 times before dumping her body down a bank.

Nine months into her life sentence, Wepa - who had affiliations to the Mongrel Mob and Deadly F***ing Bitches gangs - was also charged after nearly biting off another inmate's nipple during a fight.

In 2005, she escaped from prison with another inmate when they used a dummy in their cell beds to fool guards.

Wepa - who has a distinctive lizard tattoo on her face - escaped again while serving a three-month corrective training term at Arohata in the early 90s but was caught nearby.

Today she appeared from custody at Christchurch District Court to admit the breach of her release conditions.

Defence counsel Linda Drummond told the court that a recall order had been made by the Parole Board last week. Wepa is now scheduled to reappear before the Parole Board next March.

Judge John Strettell convicted and discharged Wepa.

She smiled, quietly said, "Thank you", before she was led back into custody.

Wepa was initially released from prison in 2012.

However, in November that year she was caught breaching her release conditions.

She had been working for a Christchurch painting contractor but had left her job and moved house without telling probation officers.

In January 2013 she was recalled to prison for the breach.