Woman dangerous—police

Press, 6 March 1985, Page 8

Woman dangerous—police

The convicted murderer who failed to return to Christchurch Women’s Prison after day-parole on Saturday is the longest serving inmate at the prison. Wikitoria Hauiti, aged 28, was still at large late last evening. The police have described Hauiti as dangerous and say that she should not be approached. The acting superintendent of Christchurch Women’s Prison, Mrs Margaret Van de Water, said yesterday, “She is quite capable of being aggressive, especially if under the influence of drugs or drink.” Hauiti was sentenced to life imprisonment after being convicted of the mur-. der of Mrs Barbara Flor-

ence Waa, aged 29, in Auckland on September 3, 1973. In June last year, Hauiti was convicted of assaulting a guard at Christchurch

Women’s Prison with the intention of causing injury. As a result, she was sentenced to a concurrent sixmonth term of imprisonment. Hauiti was due to go before a parole board on March 11, only 10 days before she disappeared. Mrs Van de water said that Hauiti, an “old hand” at the prison, had been quite settled. She felt that an outside influence could have been involved in Hauiti’s failure to return. Hauiti might also have hppnme unset because of

Hauiti might also have become upset because of minor delays in obtaining day releases for her. She had been permitted dayparole since last year. She was required to go out with “certain people”

and at times there was some delay in arranging these people, said Mrs Van de Water. Asked whether Hauiti had disappeared in the past, Mrs Van de Water said that it had happened once, about two years ago. Hauiti had been shifted the next day. Mrs Van de Water said Hauiti was a “very, very determined woman.” She was “very irate” the time she attacked the prison guard. Hauiti, however, had settled down quickly after that incident and had apologised to the guard. Hauiti is described as Maori, 160 cm tall, of solid build, with green eyes, and Afro-style hair.