Before considering her release, the board met Emma-Jane’s family and heard about the impact of her death, including on her sister, who was 15 years old at the time and was with her when Emma-Jane was killed.
Her family told the Parole Board Emma-Jane would have turned 13 that month and they wanted Pineaha to “remember and carry that” and that they felt it was “far too soon” for her to be released.
They also asked that, when Pineaha was eventually released, she be excluded from the Hawke’s Bay region.
The board conveyed their views to Pineaha and recorded that Pineaha became “visibly upset” when they did this.
During her time in prison, Pineaha had recorded no incidents or misconduct, and her file notes were “generally positive”, the Parole Board noted.
She was working in the Distribution Centre, where she was described as a good worker.
Her prison conduct officer reported she continuously displayed compliant behaviour, was respectful to staff and others and raised no behavioural concerns.
Pineaha was waitlisted for a Comprehensive Alcohol and Drug assessment and the Kowhiritanga Programme.
She told the board she believed she needed the identified treatment and was motivated to undertake it.
Her case manager was unable to provide a date or timeframe for the programmes.
Pineaha was at the Waikato hub because there was no space at Auckland Women’s Prison, and the board encouraged her case manager to explore alternative prison sites to ensure she received treatment addressing her offending.
The board determined her positive behaviour in prison was not enough to justify release.
“This was very serious offending resulting in the tragic loss of a young life,” the decision said.
“Ms Pineaha needs to undertake her identified treatment to reduce her risk prior to her release from prison.
“Without that treatment, Ms Pineaha’s risk to the safety of the community remains undue and parole is declined.”
Pineaha will return before the Parole Board in July next year, when the board expects her to have completed treatment and developed a comprehensive safety plan.