4 Jul 2011

Parole application by jailed driver thrown out

7:37 pm on 4 July 2011

The Parole Board is painting a grim picture of progress made by a disqualified driver who killed two people when she drove the wrong way down the Hutt motorway while high on methamphetamine, or P.

Leah Peneha, who is described as being desperate to leave jail, has had her parole application thrown out after accusations of arrogance and lies.

A ruling obtained by Radio New Zealand News shows Leah Peneha has been removed from the Drug Treatment Unit Programme for the second time.

She has now been reclassified as high security, having formed relationships with other inmates which the Board says are greatly concerning.

Peneha wrote a lengthy and comprehensive application to the Parole Board outlining a release plan and personal goals.

But the board has cast doubt on the credibility of her submissions saying she made an arrogant presentation which was difficult to find credible or believable and was not backed by her prison manager.

Peneha's next bid for parole is in January next year.