Killer’s mum: I wasn’t told the bail rules
Chand’s mother tells inquest she wasn’t made aware son needed 24/7 supervision
The mother of Christie Marceau’s killer has spoken publicly for the first time at the inquest into the teenager’s death. Akshay Chand stabbed Christie, 18, to death in her North Shore home in November 2011.
Chand was facing charges of earlier kidnapping, assaulting and threatening Christie and despite strenuous police opposition, he was released on bail.
He was bailed to live with his mother Suchita Chand at an address less than 1km from the Marceau home.
Chand was found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity and it was revealed that his mother had hidden kitchen knives from him, fearing he may harm himself or others.
That did not stop him. He found her hiding place and obtained the weapon he used to kill Christie.
Suchita Chand has never spoken publicly about her son’s brutal actions.
But yesterday in the second week of the inquest, she gave evidence in the Auckland District Court before Coroner Katharine Greig.
“It was an extremely stressful and distressing time for me,” she said.
“I am making this further statement to address issues that have been raised by the Coroner.”
Suchita Chand initially said that she “was not consulted about my willingness or ability to provide supervision” if he was granted bail to live in her home.
She was at court the day her son was granted bail by Judge David McNaughton.
Neither the court nor the police [gave me] any information about the bail conditions. Suchita Chand
He ordered the young offender to abide by a 24-hour curfew and only to leave the house for medical or legal appointments and even then, only if supervised by his mother or aunt.
“Neither the court nor the police provided me with any information about the bail conditions or what was expected of me while Akshay was at home on bail,” Suchita Chand told the inquest.
She said that after bail was granted, her son’s lawyer Mary-Anne Lowe spoke to her and her sister Amita Williams, who had accompanied her to court.
“She explained that Akshay would have to live in my home while on bail and that he would have to be there 24/7.
“At no time was I given to understand that I had a responsibility to ensure that Akshay was supervised by an adult at my home 24/7. Because of my work commitments there is no way that I could have done that.”
Lowe is to give evidence and is expected to tell the inquest that Chand’s mother confirmed to her that she could, and would ensure he was constantly monitored. She will give evidence that she would not have told McNaughton Chand could be monitored if his mother had not assured her that arrangement could be met.
Under cross examination Suchita Chand conceded that she did not remember much about her conversations with Lowe.
She said she did say she could keep an eye on her son but she had no idea that the court believed she had given an assurance that he would be supervised all day every day by a family member.
Suchita Chand said she had no inkling that her son was planning to kill Christie. “I didn’t see any signs, he was just normal.”
The inquest continues today.