Katrina Epiha, 24, has a lifetime and does not have to pay the damages she caused. Judge Mark Callahan of the Christchurch District Court did not issue a reparation order.
Instead, he imposed a simultaneous sentence of nine months, which was the only option available. It does not extend her life imprisonment unless the Parole Commission takes her actions into account when she finally considers releasing her.
Epiha was sentenced to 10 years’ life imprisonment without parole in 2019 for stabbing Alicia Marie Nathan (32) at a party in August 2017 after a controversy over loud music.
She escaped detention when she visited Middlemore Hospital in 2020 and fled in Auckland for about two weeks. Epiha escaped to attend her cousin Tangi after she was denied her compassionate vacation.
Since the incident at Christchurch Women’s Prison on February 11, 2022, Epiha has been transferred to Auckland Women’s Prison and appeared from there today on Videolink.
She pleaded guilty to intentional damages.
Attorney Emma Nicole said the incident happened in the hope that she had just finished 14 days in one unit and would return to the original unit, but that wouldn’t happen for another two weeks. rice field.
She said Epiha pleaded guilty because she knew she had done something wrong and didn’t want to “pull out” the court proceedings.
Judge Callahan said Epiha hid himself with furniture in the prison and painted the windows and CCTV cameras black before starting to break lights and appliances.
Next, I boarded the roof of the building from the access hatch and used a metal bar to shatter 20 skylights, ventilation systems, satellite dishes, and roofing materials. The total loss was $ 18,370.
He said the incident arose from her “frustration” that she was not allowed to return to her troops.
Judge Callahan said Epiha had waived the right to pre-judgment reporting to be sentenced immediately, but a judge in the High Court in her murder judgment on her “unfortunate background.” Mentioned comments by. She was behaving.
-David Clarkson
Open Justice Multimedia Journalist