Freed prisoner murdered infant daughter

A man murdered his daughter months after he was released from jail on home detention.

Demis Peter Paul was yesterday found guilty in the High Court at Palmerston North of murdering 14-month-old Mereana Clements-Matete in December, by hitting her in the stomach.

He will be sentenced next month.

Last September, Paul, 25, was released on "back-end" home detention, which a prisoner can apply for three months before his scheduled parole date.

He originally blamed the child's death on her two-year-old cousin, before admitting he struck the infant.