Woman convicted of 1992 toddler death now a ‘low risk’
Tania Gaye Hopping – once known as Tania Witika and jailed for the manslaughter of her daughter – is now seen as a low risk offender.
The 47-year-old was given a year’s intensive supervision with special conditions at the Christchurch District Court today after whacking her husband on the head with a vacuum cleaner pipe.
The husband, Douglas Hopping, had not wanted the matter to go further after he was patched up with four stitches at the hospital, and he was in court to support her.
She pleaded guilty in October to a charge of assault with a weapon, after striking her husband during what was described by Judge Raoul Neave as “a heated discussion about the state of your marriage”.
Hopping was convicted of manslaughter over the child abuse death of toddler Delcelia Witika in 1992.
Two-year-old Delcelia was found lying dead in a pool of blood, faeces, and urine while Hopping and the baby’s stepfather, Eddie Smith, were partying at a friend’s house in South Auckland. The toddler had been badly burned after being put in a bath of hot water.
Hopping claimed at trial that she was terrified of Smith and although she had wanted to help Delcelia she had been too frightened.
Both of them were found guilty by the jury and were jailed for 16 years for manslaughter.
Defence counsel Andrew McKenzie told the court today a sentence of supervision would ensure the family got support that would be of great assistance to them. Hopping had taken positive steps to move forward and had immediately accepted responsibility for the assault on her husband.
“She has done a very good job of self-rehabilitation after the serious matters of the 1990s. She puts a lot of that down to her husband who is supporting her in court, and the good work done by the church,” he said.
The pre-sentence report suggested she was now a low-risk offender due to the positive steps she had taken.
Judge Neave said Mr Hopping had not wanted to pursuit the matter and was generally supportive of her. “In Mr McKenzie’s submission, he has had a lot to do with your very good record in recent years.”
There was a growing problem of domestic violence and most offenders were men. “However, there is a growing number of female perpetrators and it is no more acceptable for them than for males.”
There were serious matters in her background but she had been out of trouble for a long period, and this assault was now out of character from her recent behaviour.
“Given the support from your husband, it is probably proper to regard this as a one-off incident at a time of great stress,” said Judge Neave. “One can only hope it will not be repeated.”
Category: News
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