Prison-escapee to be released

At the time of her trial the High Court at Wellington was told Wepa stabbed Ms Gardiner 50 times for telling police about Wepa's involvement in a burglary. Photo / File

A Wellington woman who has spent the past 15 years in jail for stabbing to death her friend who dobbed her into police is to be released from prison.

Melissa Anne Wepa, 38, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Porirua woman Caroline Gardiner in 1997.

At the time of her trial the High Court at Wellington was told Wepa stabbed Ms Gardiner 50 times for telling police about Wepa's involvement in a burglary.

Wepa, who met Ms Gardiner in the early 90s while they were both in Wellington's Arohata Prison, initially pleaded not guilty to the murder but changed her plea to guilty several days into the trial.

Nine months into her life sentence, Wepa - who had affiliations to the Mongrel Mob and Deadly F***ing Bitches gangs - was also charged after nearly biting off another inmate's nipple during a fight.

In 2005 she escaped from prison with another inmate when they used a dummy in their cell beds to fool guards.

In the early 90s, while serving a three-month corrective training term at Arohata, she also escaped but was caught nearby.

She also has had convictions for aggravated robbery and burglary, including a $51,000 smash-and-grab crime spree in the Manawatu region.

During Wepa's latest appearance before the Parole Board, it was told she now worked 12-hour days for a painting company, which she had been working with for the past 12 months.

"She is doing exceptionally well and working in a very good way in that employment," the board said.

She has also been taking mood stabilisation drugs and has had weekend releases from prison. She has spent the past three years in a self care unit.

The board also noted the importance of her removing her tattoos at her own expense. A prominent tattoo of a lizard used to run down one side of her face.

"She has been persuaded, and has felt herself, that they hold her back in her new life and she has been progressively removing them."

Although Wepa was assessed as being at moderate to high risk of reoffending the board said that together with the support she now had, she could now manage her risk factors appropriately.

She would be released from prison in May, but with a number of special conditions attached to her parole, including no drinking or drug taking, having no contact with the victims of her offending, and the continued taking of mood stabilising and anti-depressant medication.