The mother and maternal grandfather of a Hamilton boy have pleaded guilty in the High Court in Hamilton to his abduction.
The boy, aged 6, was in the custody of his father when he was taken from the Hamilton Public Library in August 2006 and kept in hiding in Northland.
The boy's mother, Kay Skelton, and grandfather Dick Headley have admitted abducting him - an alternate charge to kidnapping. The pleas came at the beginning of what was to be the trial of the pair.
Justice Priestly said the pleas were appropriate as the Crown case against them was "overwhelming".
The guilty pleas avoided the boy having to give evidence against his mother and grandfather. They will be sentenced in November.
In August last year, two people were jailed for detaining the boy at their home in Matauri Bay in Northland.
The boy's father, Chris Jones, is relieved at the guilty pleas. He says it has come at a huge cost to him and his family, emotionally and financially.
Mr Jones says he hopes both families can see a way through what has happened.
A Family Court suppression order prohibits Mr Jones making any comment on his son's welfare.
