Woman seeks custody of murdered sister’s sons

Press, 25 January 1989, Page 29

Woman seeks custody of murdered sister’s sons

PA Wellington A woman trying to gain custody of her sister’s two sons after their mother was murdered has won access to free legal aid. The Legal Aid Appeal Authority said she was the aunt of two boys whose father murdered their mother. He was in prison and the aunt was anxious to gain custody of the children.

This was opposed by their paternal grandmother and uncle.

Legal aid was granted, but she was asked to make a $lOOO contribution payable at $lOO a month. She appealed against this.

The aunt, aged 35, was on the domestic purposes benefit and supplemented this by working as a library assistant earning about $17,000. A single woman, she had the children in her care at present. She was paid an orphan’s benefit

for them, bringing her total income to $28,000.

“While it is correct her income is reasonably considerable, we think there are special circumstances in this case which make it inappropriate to make her pay a $lOOO contribution,” said the authority.

The Social Welfare Department and a psychologist appointed by the court agreed she was the appropriate custodian for the boys.