law
28 Aug 2020

Questions raised after isolation escapee jailed

From Midday Report, 12:18 pm on 28 August 2020

Questions have been raised after a mother who escaped managed isolation in July received a harsher sentence compared to those given to other escapees.

The 37-year-old woman who, along with her four children, fled an isolation facility in Hamilton so her family could see their dead father's body, was jailed for 14 days yesterday.

Two other people have been sentenced for escaping facilities: Suzanne Derrett, who fled the Pullman Hotel in Auckland received a suspended sentence, with the judge citing a history of mental illness, while TVNZ is reporting another man, who escaped the Distinction Hotel in Hamilton to buy alcohol, was yesterday sentenced to 40 hours community service after being in remanded in custody.

Associate Law Professor, Khylee Quince, spoke to Mani Dunlop.