10.45am
The gunman who snatched Kahu Durie from her pram 13 days ago, had first intended to kidnap her adopted mother, prominent Maori lawyer Donna Hall.
The man, who began planning to kidnap someone high profile for ransom in 1998, changed his mind in March figuring it would be easier to take
8-month-old Kahu.
In the Lower Hutt District Court this morning, 54-year-old Terence Ward Traynor pleaded guilty to five charges related to the abduction of baby Kahu Durie. Traynor whispered his guilty pleas in front of packed courtroom.
In addition to carrying off Baby Kahu, Traynor was charged with rendering her mother, Donna Hall, incapable of resistance, two counts of threatening to kill Ms Hall's two nieces, and one of use of a pistol in committing a crime.
Judge Andrew Becroft remanded him for sentence on May 24.
Kahu was taken from her pram at gunpoint as she was pushed by her mother and her two nieces along a quiet Lower Hutt street on Saturday April 13. She was returned to her family after a police hunt eight days later.
Police arrested Traynor on Sunday night after staking out a house in Taumraunui for three days.
A $3 million ransom was sought for Kahu's return, though this was not revealed until after she was safely returned to her Lower Hutt home.
In the summary of facts read to the court it was heard that Donna Hall, and not her adopted daughter Kahu, was Traynor's original kidnap target.
Traynor chose Ms Hall from a newspaper rich list and got her address from the electoral roll.
Traynor began planning to kidnap someone high profile for ransom in 1998 when he stole registration plates from a car in Auckland.
He bought a house in Taumraunui and renovated it to improve soundproofing and to make escape more difficult.
In March this year, he changed his focus to Kahu believing it would be too hard to kidnap Ms Hall.
Traynor made regular visits to Lower Hutt between January and April to watch the family's movements.
Traynor waited at a campground in Lower Hutt for three hours after the kidnapping before leaving for Taumarunui. He had been staying at the camp.
The day before the kidnapping he brought two baby's bottle and thermos.
- NZPA and HERALD STAFF
Summary of facts read in court
Full coverage: Baby Kahu kidnapping
Gunman first planned to kidnap Donna Hall
10.45am
The gunman who snatched Kahu Durie from her pram 13 days ago, had first intended to kidnap her adopted mother, prominent Maori lawyer Donna Hall.
The man, who began planning to kidnap someone high profile for ransom in 1998, changed his mind in March figuring it would be easier to take
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