Gran found guilty of manslaughter
Property awards
A grandmother charged with manslaughter over the death of her grandson who was left in a hot car has been found guilty.
The jury delivered the verdict at the High Court in Rotorua on Tuesday.
Donna Parangi, eight-month-old Isaiah Neil’s maternal grandmother, had earlier pleaded not guilty to his manslaughter when her trial began in the High Court in Rotorua last week.
But the prosecution argued she had the same level of responsibility as Isaiah’s parents, Lucy Te Whetu and Shane Neil, who have pleaded guilty to manslaughter for their role in his death.
Te Whetu and Neil are to be sentenced on Friday.
Parangi was remanded on bail until sentencing, which is expected to occur next month.
Judge Lang ordered pre sentence report which will investigate home detention.
Parangi left the court with family without comment.
The jury had retired on Monday morning to consider their verdict in Parangi’s case.
Crown prosecutor Anna Pollett and defence lawyer Julie-Ann Kincade gave their closing addresses to members of the jury on Monday.
Pollett argues the defendant Donna Parangi had the same level of responsibility as Isaiah’s parents, Lucy Te Whetu and Shane Neil, who have pleaded guilty to manslaughter for their role in his death.
Pollett says the cause of death for Baby Isaiah was hypothermia or heat stroke.
This was caused by leaving Isaiah in a hot car for approximately three hours while Parangi smoked synthetic cannabis and slept inside.
‘‘The defendant admitted leaving Isaiah in the car,’’ Pollett said.
‘‘She provided him with nothing he needed.
‘‘What he needed was to be taken out of that car.
‘‘Other attention would have been needed.
‘‘He would have needed to be hydrated and have something to eat. She didn’t protect him from harm.’’
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