Man who shook baby to death soon to be freed from prison
A man who fatally shook his toddler is set to be released from prison, less than two years into his sentence.
Dane Blake, now 32, was jailed for 51⁄2 years in March last year after pleading guilty to the manslaughter of 15-month-old Leith Hutchison on the West Coast.
He will be released on parole in January following a Parole Board hearing Monday.
His release is subject to standard and special conditions for two years, including not possessing or consuming alcohol or illicit drugs. Blake is also not allowed to travel north of State Highway 73 (Kumara-Otira Highway) without last permission from his probation officer. Parole Board convenor Judge Neil MacLean said Blake appeared to be of low risk of reoffending. ‘‘He has strong family support and a place to live and work at.’’
Blake found out he was Leith’s father a few days before the boy celebrated his first birthday on January 22, 2015.
Leith’s mother, Kate Hutchison, told Blake to look after his son as she wanted a bond to form between them.
The toddler suffered a brain injury on April 20, 2015, while Blake was looking after him at his home in Cobden, Greymouth. Leith died two days later.
In letters sent to The Press from prison, Blake admitted he was ill-equipped to be a father and had a ‘‘serious brain explosion" when Leith would not stop crying one night.
He said he shook the boy ‘‘backwards and forwards. I didn’t know it could do so much damage to a child.’’