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Offender Databases Marie Neal

Marie Joy Neal

Alias

.

Offences

Multiple arson, possession of cannabis, possession of a pipe for smoking cannabis, making a false alarm of fire

Victims

.

Offender Affiliations

.

Gang affiliations

none known

Age

Born 1961

Current Location

Prison

Parole/Release Dates

Sentenced to 6 years with a 4 year non parole period in April 2008
Later reduced to 5 years with a 3 year non parole period on appeal

Background
Background from THE PRESS 5 April 2008
A woman with 20 convictions for arson will have to serve at least four years behind bars after admitting setting a fire that could have claimed a man's life. Christchurch District Court Judge Stephen Erber yesterday noted "it was strange but a fact" that preventive detention was not available for cases like that of Marie Joy Neal. He jailed her for six years, with a four-year minimum term. The judge said Neal, 47, torched an Ashburton house only 17 days after being released from jail for a previous arson. She had 19 previous convictions for arson, seven of them for the type that put lives in danger.

"There was serious endangerment to life, which indicates you are a real, and present and future danger." Early on December 15, Neal set a fire in the kitchen of a house occupied by her boyfriend, his son and another man. Neal must have known two of the men were drunk. By the time an emergency call was made, the fire had taken hold, and one victim affected by alcohol had to be rescued from the flames in circumstances where he could have lost his life, the judge said. More than $47,000 of repairs were needed. Neal's former boyfriend, who was left out of pocket, had trusted her and was disgusted by her actions.

Another victim's asthma had been exacerbated by smoke inhalation, the judge said. Neal suffered from a personality disorder aggravated by alcohol and drug use, and it was likely she would continue similar behaviour, the judge said. She had once been ordered to be detained as a mental health patient, but as far back as 1989, he said. Lawyer Serina Bailey said Neal suffered from a serious personality disorder. She had an inability to cope under stress, rather than anything more evil. She had been in and out of various programmes, but did not fall within the provisions of the Mental Health Act. The judge said there was no point in making a reparation order.

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Corrections and Additional Information
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