A woman who torched a Dunedin home more than five years ago, forcing two people to flee for their lives, has been declined parole.
Maria Leanne Timlin, who is nearing the end of a prison sentence of three years and nine months, appeared before the New Zealand Parole Board earlier this year.
She was imprisoned for crimes of attempted murder, arson and assault, and has a sentence end date of June 30.
Timlin also appeared before the board in November, with parole deferred as a plan to have her admitted to a withheld place was postponed until a bed became available.
She is to be seen again by the board next month, and was reminded that it was in her interest to work towards a safe release plan.
In December 2007, Timlin was an inpatient at Wakari Hospital, but not in a secure ward, when she left and set fire to a South Dunedin house where two people were sleeping.
She had placed rubbish bags in the man's bedroom and then set fire to the curtains and left the house. However, she went to a neighbour and told them what she had done.
The man and woman were not injured in the incident.
