Kahu's kidnapper rang Donna Hall to discuss ransom demands

3.30pm

Terence Traynor filled his thermos with warm milk, ready to pour into the two baby bottles he had bought the day before. Taking a balaclava, a pair of gloves and a .22 Ruger semi automatic firearm loaded with 10 rounds of ammunition, Traynor drove to a street in Lower Hutt to wait for Kahu Durie and her mother to leave their home.

He watched as Donna Hall, a prominent Maori lawyer, her two nieces, Manumea and Erena and the family dog left the Durie house pushing 8-month-old Kahu in a pram. It was about 11.20am on Saturday, April 13.

Less than half an hour later, Traynor was speeding from St Albans Grove, with baby Kahu in the front seat of his car.

Ms Hall stood in front of the car as it sped off to try to stop Traynor, but had to jump out of the way to avoid being run over. Five days later she would come in contact with Traynor again when he telephoned her to talk about a ransom for her child.

In the Lower Hutt District Court this morning, 54-year-old Terence Ward Traynor pleaded guilty to five charges related to the abduction of baby Kahu Durie. Traynor whispered his guilty pleas in front of a packed courtroom.

He was remanded in custody.

The day of the kidnapping, Traynor had followed Ms Hall and her nieces from the Durie house to St Albans Grove. He parked outside a daycare centre, continuing to wait and watch.

As the group reached the entrance to Strand Park, Traynor got out of his car and ran across the road towards the two nieces who were pushing Kahu's pram a few metres ahead of Ms Hall and her dog.

He pointed his gun at Erena's head and threatened to kill her and her sister. He began waving the firearm between Erena and Manumea, yelling at them to walk away from the baby.

When Ms Hall caught up to them, Traynor threatened to kill her and demanded that she get rid of the dog. Too afraid to resist, Ms Hall did as she was told.

Traynor then took the pushchair to his vehicle. He placed Kahu in the front seat, placed the firearm between his legs and sped off.

He waited at his site at a Lower Hutt camping ground for three hours before driving to Taumarunui.

Three days later, Traynor posted a ransom note to Ms Hall's address in Lower Hutt. Police intercepted the letter the next day.

The envelope contained a ransom note, as well as five polaroid photographs of baby Kahurautete sitting on a couch with a newspaper article relating to the kidnapping pinned to the wall behind her.

The ransom note stated that baby Kahurautete was alive and well and would be returned to Ms Hall in exchange for $3 million dollars.

The note said that if there was any interference from the police, or the ransom was not paid in full, she would not see her baby again.

Ms Hall spoke to Traynor on April 18. Traynor had left Kahu at the Taumarunui house and gone to Te Awamutu.

Traynor asked Ms Hall if the ransom was ready.

He reiterated the terms of the ransom and told her that he would call her back in a couple of days.

About 4pm on Sunday April 21, Traynor again left 75C Hikumutu Road, leaving Kahu alone inside. Police went inside and took Kahu back.

Summary of facts read in court

Full coverage: Baby Kahu kidnapping