Kahu kidnapper not seen by family for twenty years

11.45pm

After almost 20 years of virtual silence, Terence Ward Traynor has made a shock return to the lives of his family.

Traynor today pleaded guilty to kidnapping eight-month-old Kahurautete Durie at gunpoint 13 days ago in St Albans Grove, Lower Hutt, while her mother, Donna Hall, was out walking with two nieces.

Kahu's father is High Court judge Eddie Durie, while Ms Hall is a prominent Wellington lawyer.

The family had heard virtually no news from or of Traynor for two decades, until his arrest hit the headlines last week.

Traynor, 54, unemployed, appeared in Lower Hutt District Court this morning and also pleaded guilty to two additional charges of threatening to kill Ms Hall's two nieces and one of using a pistol to commit a crime, namely kidnapping.

He also pleaded guilty to a charge of intent to commit a crime by violent means, rendering Ms Hall incapable of resistance.

"Like every family in New Zealand our family was happy and relieved to hear of the safe return of Kahurautete Durie to her parents earlier this week," a statement from the Traynor family said.

"It came as a dreadful shock to learn that the man held for this despicable crime is an estranged member of our family.

"Terry Traynor has not been in contact with our family for over 20 years and during that time we have had almost no news of him."

Despite this, the family had assisted the police as much as they could, the statement said.

"Our family wishes only the best for Kahu and her parents and we sincerely hope that they can get back to normal life as soon as possible."

- NZPA

Full coverage: Baby Kahu kidnapping