Megan Haines: Difference between revisions

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{{Quote|Her conduct was deliberate and calculating. It was a gross breach of trust and a flagrant abuse of her power|Justice Peter Garling<ref name=ABCsentence>[http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-16/megan-haines-sentenced-for-murder-of-two-elderly-women/8126418 Megan Haines: Ex-nurse sentenced to 36 years in jail for murder of elderly women by insulin overdose] - Lucy Carter for ABC, December 2016</ref>}}

'''Megan Haines''' is a South African-born<ref name=SMHknew>[http://www.portnews.com.au/story/4257890/nurse-megan-haines-knew-more-than-she-had-been-told-after-ballina-nursing-home-deaths-court-told/?cs=7 Nurse Megan Haines knew more than she had been told after Ballina nursing home deaths, court told] - Ava Benny-Morrison for ''The Sydney Morning Herald'', republished in ''Port News'', October 2016</ref> former nurse who murdered two residents at an Australian nursing home in May 2014.

'''Megan Jean<ref name=SMHHistory>[http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/drugs-theft-allegations-insulin-injections-and-misconduct-troubling-history-of-nurse-megan-haines-revealed-20161104-gsiakr.html Drugs, theft allegations, insulin injections: nurse Megan Haines' history revealed] by Ava Benny-Morrison and Nino Bucci writing for ''The Sydney Morning Herald'', November 2016</ref> Haines''' is a South African-born<ref name=SMHknew>[http://www.portnews.com.au/story/4257890/nurse-megan-haines-knew-more-than-she-had-been-told-after-ballina-nursing-home-deaths-court-told/?cs=7 Nurse Megan Haines knew more than she had been told after Ballina nursing home deaths, court told] - Ava Benny-Morrison for ''The Sydney Morning Herald'', republished in ''Port News'', October 2016</ref> former nurse who murdered two residents at an Australian nursing home in May 2014.

==Background==

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Haines was tried before Justice Peter Garling at the New South Wales Supreme Court in Lismore.<ref name=ABCsentence/><ref name=SCDLismore/> She was represented at trial by Troy Edwards, with prosecutor Brendan Campbell representing the crown.<ref name=GrannyKiller/>

Intercepted telephone calls formed a significant part of the evidence. In one call, dated May 16, 2014, Haines spoke of the previous days' police visit to a friend and said "They [the police] said on Saturday there was medication given to some patient or whatever. Apparently the patients were actually given wrong medication."<ref name=SMHknew/>

According to Detective Superintendent Michael Willing, a Homicide Squad member, Haines was immediately suspected: "We had a good idea of what occurred and were waiting for further forensic accounts."<ref name=SMHallegedly/>

Intercepted telephone calls formed a significant part of the evidence. In one call, dated May 16, 2014, Haines spoke of the previous days' police visit to a friend and said "They [the police] said on Saturday there was medication given to some patient or whatever. Apparently the patients were actually given wrong medication." At this point nobody had told Haines the victims were poisoned.<ref name=SMHknew/> Another intercepted call showed Haines saying she wanted to permanently leave the country.<ref name=ABCbail/>

On May 13, 2014 Haines called an employment agency to discuss the meeting she had been due to attend to discuss the complaints. She asked for somebody from the agency to accompany her, saying she was at "one of these meetings before" and that "Before you know it the nurses board knows there has been a complaint about you." She said the complaints were "probably minor" and she was unsure "if I should resign from this place or see if I can make it work or whatever."<ref name=SMHknew/>

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The court heard of an alleged conversation with a former partner<ref name=ABCsentence/> whilst watching a CSI-type show in 2009.<ref name=SMHjailed/> She was said to have claimed it was "easy" to kill somebody and get away with it: "Inject them with insulin because the body continues to metabolise insulin so it looks like natural causes."<ref name=SMHjailed/> She claimed in court not to remember this but confirmed she did watch such shows and comment on them using her nursing expertise.<ref name=ABCsentence/>

Campbell sought a life sentence, citing the vulnerability of the deceased and the "extreme" culpability of Haines; Edwards contended this was not necessary as the planning was only "rudimentary".<ref name=GrannyKiller/> She was sentenced to 36 years in prison with parole becoming possible in 2041, by which time she will have served 27 years.<ref name=ABCsentence/>

Wendy Turner told the court details of the complaints against Haines.<ref name=ABCsentence/> Haines had unfettered access to locked medication stores and insulin prescribed to another patient was found missing.<ref name=ABCbail/> The victims had been in apparently good health prior to their deaths.<ref name=ABCbail/> However, both had advanced care directives in place indicating they were not to be resuscitated.<ref name=SCDLismore/>

Haines admitted in the witness box being in Darragh's room the night she died, saying noises were heard coming from the room and she attended with a colleague.<ref name=ABCGuilty>[http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-11-03/nurse-guilty-of-murdering-two-patients-nursing-home-ballina/7987084 Ballina nursing home deaths: Megan Haines guilty of murdering two patients with fatal insulin dose], ABC, November 2016</ref> She told the court she "did not inject anyone".<ref name=GuardianGuilty>[https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/nov/03/former-nurse-found-guilty-of-2014-of-two-women-in-ballina-retirement-village Former nurse found guilty of 2014 murder of two women in Ballina retirement village] - The Guardian, November 2016.</ref>

Campbell said the evidence showed an attempt to "eliminate the cause" of complaints that jeapordised her reinstated, restricted nursing licence but Edwards claimed had this been the case Patterson would also be dead and pointed out other staff had access to insulin.<ref name=GuardianGuilty/>

Haines was convicted on November 3, 2016 after just four hours of jury deliberations.<ref name=ABCGuilty/> She appeared emotionless during the verdict,<ref name=GuardianGuilty/> and then sat impassively in court while grieving families read victim impact statements.<ref name=GrannyKiller/>

Campbell sought a life sentence, citing the vulnerability of the deceased and the "extreme" culpability of Haines; Edwards contended this was not necessary as the planning was only "rudimentary".<ref name=GrannyKiller/> Sentencing was delayed until December 7, 2016 after Edwards requested a psychiatric report.<ref name=ABCGuilty/> She was sentenced to 36 years in prison with parole becoming possible in 2041, by which time she will have served 27 years.<ref name=ABCsentence/>

==Aftermath==

Haines is the subject of harassment at her home in Silverwater prison and has spent time in and out of protective custody as a result. In one July 2016 inmate request form she wrote ""I fear for my safety because yesterday a girl said that I must go back to protection, that it was a dog act to kill old ladies... When I was arrested I shut down and felt like I was in a small box, but it was closed. At the moment, I'm not feeling anything." Fellow inmates regard her as a "granny killer", a form of criminal despised by other offenders. <ref name=GrannyKiller>[http://www.liverpoolchampion.com.au/story/4342747/in-fear-of-her-life-granny-killer-nurse-megan-haines-taunted-by-silverwater-jail-inmates/?cs=12 In fear of her life, 'Granny killer' nurse Megan Haines taunted by Silverwater jail inmates] - Stephanie Gardiner writing for ''The Sydney Morning Herald'', republished by ''The Liverpool Champion'', December 2016</ref>

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 {{Quote|Her conduct was deliberate and calculating. It was a gross breach of trust and a flagrant abuse of her power|Justice Peter Garling<ref name=ABCsentence>[http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-16/megan-haines-sentenced-for-murder-of-two-elderly-women/8126418 Megan Haines: Ex-nurse sentenced to 36 years in jail for murder of elderly women by insulin overdose] - Lucy Carter for ABC, December 2016</ref>}}
-'''Megan Haines''' is a South African-born<ref name=SMHknew>[http://www.portnews.com.au/story/4257890/nurse-megan-haines-knew-more-than-she-had-been-told-after-ballina-nursing-home-deaths-court-told/?cs=7 Nurse Megan Haines knew more than she had been told after Ballina nursing home deaths, court told] - Ava Benny-Morrison for ''The Sydney Morning Herald'', republished in ''Port News'', October 2016</ref> former nurse who murdered two residents at an Australian nursing home in May 2014.
+'''Megan Jean<ref name=SMHHistory>[http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/drugs-theft-allegations-insulin-injections-and-misconduct-troubling-history-of-nurse-megan-haines-revealed-20161104-gsiakr.html Drugs, theft allegations, insulin injections: nurse Megan Haines' history revealed] by Ava Benny-Morrison and Nino Bucci writing for ''The Sydney Morning Herald'', November 2016</ref> Haines''' is a South African-born<ref name=SMHknew>[http://www.portnews.com.au/story/4257890/nurse-megan-haines-knew-more-than-she-had-been-told-after-ballina-nursing-home-deaths-court-told/?cs=7 Nurse Megan Haines knew more than she had been told after Ballina nursing home deaths, court told] - Ava Benny-Morrison for ''The Sydney Morning Herald'', republished in ''Port News'', October 2016</ref> former nurse who murdered two residents at an Australian nursing home in May 2014.
 ==Background==
@@ Line 20: / Line 20: @@
 Haines was tried before Justice Peter Garling at the New South Wales Supreme Court in Lismore.<ref name=ABCsentence/><ref name=SCDLismore/> She was represented at trial by Troy Edwards, with prosecutor Brendan Campbell representing the crown.<ref name=GrannyKiller/>
-Intercepted telephone calls formed a significant part of the evidence. In one call, dated May 16, 2014, Haines spoke of the previous days' police visit to a friend and said "They [the police] said on Saturday there was medication given to some patient or whatever. Apparently the patients were actually given wrong medication."<ref name=SMHknew/><!--This paragraph is from that one source, same for next paragraph-->
+According to Detective Superintendent Michael Willing, a Homicide Squad member, Haines was immediately suspected: "We had a good idea of what occurred and were waiting for further forensic accounts."<ref name=SMHallegedly/>
+Intercepted telephone calls formed a significant part of the evidence. In one call, dated May 16, 2014, Haines spoke of the previous days' police visit to a friend and said "They [the police] said on Saturday there was medication given to some patient or whatever. Apparently the patients were actually given wrong medication." At this point nobody had told Haines the victims were poisoned.<ref name=SMHknew/><!--This paragraph is from that one source, same for next paragraph--> Another intercepted call showed Haines saying she wanted to permanently leave the country.<ref name=ABCbail/>
 On May 13, 2014 Haines called an employment agency to discuss the meeting she had been due to attend to discuss the complaints. She asked for somebody from the agency to accompany her, saying she was at "one of these meetings before" and that "Before you know it the nurses board knows there has been a complaint about you." She said the complaints were "probably minor" and she was unsure "if I should resign from this place or see if I can make it work or whatever."<ref name=SMHknew/>
@@ Line 26: / Line 28: @@
 The court heard of an alleged conversation with a former partner<ref name=ABCsentence/> whilst watching a CSI-type show in 2009.<ref name=SMHjailed/> She was said to have claimed it was "easy" to kill somebody and get away with it: "Inject them with insulin because the body continues to metabolise insulin so it looks like natural causes."<ref name=SMHjailed/> She claimed in court not to remember this but confirmed she did watch such shows and comment on them using her nursing expertise.<ref name=ABCsentence/>
-Campbell sought a life sentence, citing the vulnerability of the deceased and the "extreme" culpability of Haines; Edwards contended this was not necessary as the planning was only "rudimentary".<ref name=GrannyKiller/> She was sentenced to 36 years in prison with parole becoming possible in 2041, by which time she will have served 27 years.<ref name=ABCsentence/>
+Wendy Turner told the court details of the complaints against Haines.<ref name=ABCsentence/> Haines had unfettered access to locked medication stores and insulin prescribed to another patient was found missing.<ref name=ABCbail/> The victims had been in apparently good health prior to their deaths.<ref name=ABCbail/> However, both had advanced care directives in place indicating they were not to be resuscitated.<ref name=SCDLismore/>
+Haines admitted in the witness box being in Darragh's room the night she died, saying noises were heard coming from the room and she attended with a colleague.<ref name=ABCGuilty>[http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-11-03/nurse-guilty-of-murdering-two-patients-nursing-home-ballina/7987084 Ballina nursing home deaths: Megan Haines guilty of murdering two patients with fatal insulin dose], ABC, November 2016</ref> She told the court she "did not inject anyone".<ref name=GuardianGuilty>[https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/nov/03/former-nurse-found-guilty-of-2014-of-two-women-in-ballina-retirement-village Former nurse found guilty of 2014 murder of two women in Ballina retirement village] - The Guardian, November 2016.</ref>
+Campbell said the evidence showed an attempt to "eliminate the cause" of complaints that jeapordised her reinstated, restricted nursing licence but Edwards claimed had this been the case Patterson would also be dead and pointed out other staff had access to insulin.<ref name=GuardianGuilty/>
+Haines was convicted on November 3, 2016 after just four hours of jury deliberations.<ref name=ABCGuilty/> She appeared emotionless during the verdict,<ref name=GuardianGuilty/> and then sat impassively in court while grieving families read victim impact statements.<ref name=GrannyKiller/>
+Campbell sought a life sentence, citing the vulnerability of the deceased and the "extreme" culpability of Haines; Edwards contended this was not necessary as the planning was only "rudimentary".<ref name=GrannyKiller/> Sentencing was delayed until December 7, 2016 after Edwards requested a psychiatric report.<ref name=ABCGuilty/> She was sentenced to 36 years in prison with parole becoming possible in 2041, by which time she will have served 27 years.<ref name=ABCsentence/>
 ==Aftermath==
 Haines is the subject of harassment at her home in Silverwater prison and has spent time in and out of protective custody as a result. In one July 2016 inmate request form she wrote ""I fear for my safety because yesterday a girl said that I must go back to protection, that it was a dog act to kill old ladies... When I was arrested I shut down and felt like I was in a small box, but it was closed. At the moment, I'm not feeling anything." Fellow inmates regard her as a "granny killer", a form of criminal despised by other offenders. <ref name=GrannyKiller>[http://www.liverpoolchampion.com.au/story/4342747/in-fear-of-her-life-granny-killer-nurse-megan-haines-taunted-by-silverwater-jail-inmates/?cs=12 In fear of her life, 'Granny killer' nurse Megan Haines taunted by Silverwater jail inmates] - Stephanie Gardiner writing for ''The Sydney Morning Herald'', republished by ''The Liverpool Champion'', December 2016</ref><!---This paragraph all comes from the "granny killer" article-->