A young nanny who kidnapped a newborn baby after faking an elaborate and delusional pregnancy to fool friends and family has been jailed for three years. Video supplied.
The young nanny who orchestrated an elaborate plot, including a fake pregnancy, to kidnap a newborn baby remains a risk to the community and will stay behind bars, the Parole Board has ruled.
Nadene Faye Manukau-Togiavalu, 22, appeared for her second parole hearing last Thursday by video-link from Auckland Region Women's Corrections Facility.
But in a decision by the Parole Board, sent to the Herald today, Manukau-Togiavalu will remain in prison for the time being.
"We have no clear idea of the progress and Ms Manukau-Togiavalu has made no treatment with the [withheld] while she has been in custody," the decision reads.
"This leads to considerable concern that we have insufficient information to be sure that it is safe to release Ms Manukau-Togiavalu. We cannot be satisfied that she no longer poses an undue risk to the safety of the community."
While behind bars Manukau-Togiavalu has, however, completed a rehabilitation programme and told the Parole Board she has learned how to identify high-risk situations in relationships and associates.
"It appears that central to Ms Manukau-Togiavalu's offending is her [withheld] health and wellbeing. The board has very little information about this and what it does have is second-hand opinion," the decision reads.
The courts have earlier heard that much of Manukau-Togiavalu's offending may have stemmed from the killing of her cousin - rising rugby league star Luke Tipene.
Tipene died after he was stabbed in the neck with a broken beer bottle by Vincent Skeen during a brawl outside a party in central Auckland in November 2014.
Manukau-Togiavalu held her 17-year-old cousin in her arms as he bled to death and later gave evidence at Skeen's murder trial and retrial.
Classed as a minimum security prisoner, Manukau-Togiavalu has also had several incidents while in jail, including one with a prison guard, the decision states.
"There have in the past, been a number of misconducts," the decision reads.
"The most recent was for fighting with or assaulting another prisoner in January of this year. There has also been an incident where Ms Manukau-Togiavalu sprayed disinfectant towards a prison officer."
Before the next parole hearing by the end of October, the board requested a psychological assessment of Manukau-Togiavalu to evaluate her level of risk and the progress she has made while undertaking her treatment programmes.
Her sentence ends on August 30, 2020.
Nadene Manukau-Togiavalu wore a fake pregnancy suit during her hoax baby shower before the kidnapping. Photo / Supplied
The kidnapping plot began after Manukau-Togiavalu developed the fantasy she had given birth to a boy but he had been adopted out.
The parents told the Herald the kidnapping of their daughter has caused "lasting and considerable damage" and described it as a "living nightmare".
"She is a danger to children and society as a whole," the mother said of Manukau -Togiavalu.
Sydnee Shaunna Taulapapa, pictured during her High Court sentencing. Photo / Sam Hurley
At Manukau-Togiavalu's sentencing, she said in a letter of remorse that "incarceration has been the best thing that has happened to me".
She was also convicted and discharged for burglary, criminal harassment, making an intimate visual recording and dishonestly using a document.
Taulapapa, meanwhile, was discharged without conviction for kidnapping and burglary after she was conned into believing her cousin's delusional tales.
At Taulapapa's sentencing in April last year, Justice Peter Woodhouse did, however, order her to complete 400 hours' community work and pay $2000 to the baby's parents, or a children's charity.
