From haven to kidnapper's lair

When the police special tactics group raided the kidnapper's Taumarunui hideout they were confronted with a scene out of a horror movie.

The three-bedroom bungalow had been converted into a prison for a kidnap victim. A source told the Herald: "It was real Hannibal Lecter stuff."

After Terence Traynor bought the house last December, he lined the walls with extra sheets of plywood to make it soundproof and covered and padlocked the windows so his prisoner could not escape.

He reconstructed the interior so his intended victim, Donna Hall, could use the bathroom and toilet without gaining access to the rest of the house.

The house had already been refurbished by its previous owner, Graeme Stewart, last year.

Mr Stewart said the house had a wide hallway "big enough to play bowls". The bedrooms were large and he thought it might have been possible to put a door from one through to the bathroom and laundry.

Full coverage: Baby Kahu kidnapping


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