New Zealand / Regional

Killer caregiver granted parole for second time

17:02 pm on 11 April 2016

A woman serving preventive detention for killing a child she was nannying has been granted parole for a second time.

Elizabeth Healy was convicted for the murder in Christchurch in 1997 of 17-month-old Shae Hammond.

Healy was granted parole in 2013 but the Parole Board Convenor described her performance on probation in 2014 as abysmal.

A new decision by the Parole Board found that Healy was in a much stronger position now, and had worked hard on her release plan.

The board said Healy understood her risks, and had a very strong but realistic support network.

It said the victim's mother remained opposed to her release and had asked that Healy not enter Christchurch nor have contact with children.