Soldier asks court to let her stay with her baby
A soldier has pleaded guilty to drug charges during a court martial at Linton Military Camp, near Palmerston North.
Lance Corporal Kasey Rey Tapara, 31, admitted four charges yesterday relating to the use, supply and procurement of MDMA, a class-B drug, from January 2017 to July 2018. The charges relate to use at various locations, including the popular music festival Bay Dreams. She also took MDMA at an Ohakune Mardi Gras, at her Palmerston North home, at a party in Wellington and at two cocktail parties.
A supply technician for 5 Movements Company, Tapara supplied MDMA to three other service people.
On February 28, 2018, Tapara offered MDMA to two soldiers via text message in a bid to get a cheaper deal. ‘‘Do you and Rob want some MD for homegrown. . . It’s 350-400 bux a gram. . . My supplier is getting me some and said it’s cheaper if I can get more people on board for a bulk supply lol,’’ the message said.
In another message, she offered to split her remaining MDMA with another soldier: ‘‘So I have half a green pill that I’m going to take on Friday. . . Want to go halfies with me... Crush it up and sniff sniff lol.’’
Tapara apologised for her actions. She asked her sentencing panel to consider a punishment that would allow her to stay with her three-month-old baby.
‘‘I just want to start the rest of my life with my baby,’’ she said. ‘‘I just don’t want to be separated from my baby. I’ll do anything else – just don’t separate me from my baby. She’s my world.
‘‘I just want to apologise for my actions. What I did was stupid. If it wasn’t for my friends that came froward and went to the [commanding officer], I don’t know what would have happened to me. I would have carried on, but my friends did the right thing. My life has been turned upside down all because I did something stupid, and it’s been hard. If I could turn back the time I would.’’
Prosecutor, Flight Lieutenant Nina White, told military members the offending was serious.
White asked for a dismissal from service and four to six months’ imprisonment in a civilian prison’s mothers and babies unit.
Defence lawyer David Pawson argued Tapara should receive a reduction in rank and dismissal from service, but no prison time.
Pawson said Tapara’s mental health problems following her return from Iraq, trial delays and her guilty plea should be taken into account.
The court martial continues.