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Child Youth and Family has had a last-minute change of heart over plans allowing the estranged wife of convicted double murderer Scott Watson to foster the infant daughter of notorious prison escaper Arthur Taylor.
Coral Watson - who has four children of her own to several different fathers - had reached an agreement with CYF to foster the child while the child's parents, Arthur and Carolyn Taylor, served their prison sentences.
However, following publicity over the case, CYF reviewed its decision and now a South Island relative of Carolyn Taylor's is to be considered as the child's new caregiver.
CYF declined to comment about the matter, saying it could not discuss details of individual cases with the media.
Watson also refused to speak to the Herald on Sunday, but a fortnight ago she said her only desire was to give the Taylor baby a "loving home".
The Taylor baby was apparently conceived from frozen sperm smuggled out of Rimutaka Prison by a prison officer. According to 51-year-old Taylor, it was then inseminated into his wife Carolyn, who was on bail at the time for charges relating to the armed ambush of prison officers in March 2005. She is serving a 26-month sentence at Auckland Women's Corrections Facility.
Taylor told the Herald on Sunday CYF had received calls which raised alarm bells about the decision to place the child with Watson.
"Carolyn and I can take no risks when it comes to the care and well-being of our child... She is the most precious thing in our lives so we have asked that CYF reconsider the placement," Taylor said from Auckland Prison at Paremoremo.
"Carolyn and I still appreciate that Coral stepped forward to look after our child. But when you are a parent and have to entrust the care of your child to someone else you can't make mistakes. You don't get second chances. The decision has to be right first time."
Taylor said he expected his wife would be parolled shortly after Christmas and then all going to plan the child would revert back into her care.
"Carolyn has no previous convictions. She has never been in prison before and has excellent support out there in the community. The only thing they [the Parole Board] could hold against her is the fact that she is married to me."
Last September Taylor - one of the few men to ever escape from Paremoremo prison - was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment on a variety of charges relating to alleged drug, firearms and other offending. He has two other children, 15-year-old Tyrone and 3-year-old Kane.
