Cyenna Diane Allimain Grace-Ngaro, 26, is serving a sentence of two years three months at Christchurch Women’s Prison after leaving a moped rider with life-threatening injuries in a high-speed crash.
She was jailed in June last year, but at a recent parole hearing, the board heard that despite one-on-one psychological treatment being recommended, she was yet to see a clinician.
"The board do not understand this delay and pointed out that a psychological report prepared during January of 2024 indicated that individual sessions will be the appropriate way forward for Ms Grace-Ngaro," panel convener Serina Bailey said.
"It is difficult to understand why there is ongoing hesitation now when she is so close to her release date. Effectively Ms Grace-Ngaro has received no treatment."
Given that was the case, parole was refused and it appeared likely the prisoner would serve the entirety of her sentence, which expires in January next year.
While on bail for attacking her ex-boyfriend in 2022, Grace-Ngaro took her new partner’s Toyota Camry after smoking cannabis.
CCTV captured her driving the wrong way around the Octagon and speeding through traffic lights at 73kmh at the intersection of Stuart and Cumberland Sts, narrowly avoiding a collision.
Moments later, Grace-Ngaro turned left instead of right on the one-way system outside the Dunedin Railway Station, slamming into a moped rider who was waiting at a red light.
At sentencing, the Dunedin District Court heard the victim was thrown through the air, "repeatedly somersaulting" before landing about 30m away.
Grace-Ngaro’s vehicle mounted the kerb and was airborne for 12m, coming to a rest in the middle of the station gardens.
The victim underwent surgery to save his leg from amputation, and doctors said the injuries would "likely be carried by him for the rest of his life".
Grace-Ngaro had a "mixed report" from Corrections when she appeared before the Parole Board.
She had accrued misconducts, but there were also some positive file notes about her behaviour, Ms Bailey noted.
"She notes herself that she is still a young person and appears now to be motivated to stop the re-offending cycle and to hopefully get on with a more settled way of life when she is re-admitted to the community," she said.
Grace-Ngaro will see the Parole Board again in November.
