Corrections doubts Namana's claims

The Corrections Department today cast doubt on Rachealle Namana's claims that she smoked methamphetamine in jail and that life behind bars was not so hard.

Namana, who was convicted of the manslaughter of baby Lillybing, has been released after serving her sentence.

She has claimed she watched porn on her cellphone, smoked methamphetamine, known colloquially as P, and said in an interview with the Sunday Star-Times newspaper that life inside was "fine".

Corrections Department chief executive Barry Matthews today described her as "a very difficult prisoner" who did not know how to treat other people.

"But the fact that she says she thinks we're soft is a typical 'I'm trying to be staunch' attitude," he said.

"Whether she was or was not suffering in prison we will never know."

Mr Matthews said Namana was drug tested 15 times while she was in jail and only three were positive, all for cannabis.

He told TV One's Breakfast programme that Namana had been given support in prison and attempts were made to rehabilitate her.

"Unfortunately, with some people no matter how much support you can't turn them round," he said.

Lillybing died in July 2000, aged 23 months, from cerebral swelling after being shaken violently by Namana, her aunt.

The baby had been abused over preceding days, and also had potentially fatal abdominal bruising and lacerations to her genitals.

It was one of New Zealand's worst child abuse cases, which saw Namana and another of Lillybing's aunts, Rongomai Paewai, jailed.

Namana told the newspaper she had not been rehabilitated and expected she would be back in prison.

"Do I look like I've turned my life around?" she said.

- NZPA