A coroner’s investigation into the death of a young girl suspected to have taken her own life nearly five years ago has yet to be completed, while the woman responsible for the historical abuse of her, and two other children, is out of prison on parole.
In June 2019, Taranaki woman Dana Bernadette Taylor was jailed for four years and three months for the physical abuse, cruelty and neglect of three children over a period of six years.
Starting in March 2011, the abuse included punching, kicking and constant name-calling, along with a failure to provide for the needs of the children in terms of their day-to-day welfare. When the oldest child died in a suspected suicide in June 2017, the two others were taken into care.
At her sentencing, the court heard how Taylor’s abuse of synthetic cannabis, methamphetamine and marijuana was a factor in the offending, and she often prioritised getting her fix over meeting the children’s needs.
One of the child victims told the New Plymouth District Court she didn’t have a bed of her own, often went without food and couldn’t start school on time as Taylor spent money meant for a uniform on drugs. The events related to the death of one of the oldest victim was investigated by police, ahead of the coroner taking over the case.
However, it has taken close to five years for this work to be completed, highlighting delays experienced nationwide regarding outcomes of coronial enquiries, which can include recommendations. In a briefing to the Minster of Courts last year, it was expected the number of coronial enquiries awaiting final decision to rise to 3500 by January 2024.
A Ministry of Justice media spokesperson said the coroner’s report into the girl’s death was being “finalised” ahead of its release.
Meanwhile, Taylor was released from prison last year, after a successful bid for parole.
In the Parole Board’s November 2021 report, it said Taylor, who is in her late 30s, was previously considered for parole in March but expressed feeling “nervous” about her release.
Prior to the hearing in November, the report said things did not go well for Taylor behind bars, and she was found with contraband she had smuggled into prison after being on the release to work programme.
As a result she lost her work placement.She also failed two follow-up drug tests, but the type of substances involved were not disclosed in the parole report.
Taylor explained to the board she felt pressured during the six months she was on the work programme to bring contraband back in. She also admitted to taking one of the drugs to treat a sore back and the other lapse came due to “her good progress in prison unravelling”, the report said.
After these incidents, she attended six sessions with a psychologist to help her, a move which proved integral to the board’s decision to grant Taylor parole. Taylor will be subject to special conditions until May this year, which includes not to use unprescribed drugs or drink alcohol, and not to have contact with the victims of her offending without written approval from her probation officer.
