John Ratu Tauwhare

John Tauwhare was fed salt and possibly suffocated by his mother, who was "one of life's casualties". The Greymouth baby was born on April 1, 1991. Less than a year later, his mother, Paula Tauwhare, no longer wanted him and hatched a plan, which led to his death. Tauwhare, aged in her early 20s, was charged with murder a month later and subsequently found guilty of manslaughter. She was sentenced to one year and nine months' jail. According Justice Andrew McGechan's sentencing notes, John was unwell and admitted to hospital with suspected pneumonia on March 10, 1992. When the child's condition began to improve he and his mother were kept in hospital for a few days in an attempt to improve her childcare skills. However, Tauwhare wanted to return to Auckland, probably to be with her boyfriend – the father of the child – and no longer wanted John who "had become a nuisance" to her, the judge said. She decided to make the child ill so he would be taken from her by social welfare. Tauwhare gave John table salt which was easily available in the ward in large doses. "The child became seriously ill. It was vomiting and incontinent," the judge said. On March 16, about 11pm, John collapsed, had fits and died the next morning. McGechan said there was "inconclusive" evidence from a pathologist and some "not entirely satisfactory admissions evidence pointing towards a smothering". However, the smothering was not proved beyond reasonable doubt. Tauwhare's mother died when she was very young, the judge said. "Your history became one of neglect, institutional care, foster care, special schools and in the end you were on the loose and probably on the streets in Auckland. You have been one of life's casualties," he said. She had a low intellectual level and was "borderline handicapped", the judge said. "You have no life skills. You have no work skills. You have very poor communication skills." Tauwhare's lawyer Craig Ruane said he remembered the case well, but without his client's permission he was unable to say much. He had not heard from her since she was sentenced in July 1993 and had no idea where she might be. Source: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/faces-of-innocents/76824872/faces-...