Convicted child killer to be released from prison

Elizabeth Mary Healy was first granted parole in March 2013 but was recalled to prison in November 2014. Photo / iStock

A woman serving a life sentence for killing a 17-month-old girl and poisoning another child is set to be released from prison.

Elizabeth Mary Healy, who still denies killing 17-month-old Shae Hammond and poisoning the other child in January 1997, was first granted parole in March 2013.

But she was recalled in November 2014 after her behaviour while on parole "became abysmal".

Now, she has now been granted parole for a second time.

A full decision by the Parole Board is expected in the coming weeks.

Healy was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1998 after a jury found her guilty of the baby's murder.

When Healy was recalled to prison in November 2014, she was accused of breaching her parole conditions by babysitting a neighbour's young child.

Hutt Valley District Court Judge Chris Tuohy dismissed the charge after he was not satisfied to the required criminal standard.

However, the Parole Board found it was "abundantly clear that there was a failure to keep in mind to faithfully adhere" to her parole conditions.