Auckland mother sentenced to home detention for kidnapping

An Auckland mother-of-two has been sentenced to home detention for her role in the group kidnapping of a woman who died trying to escape. 

Cecilia Hansen, 30, appeared in front of Justice Murray Gilbert at the High Court at Auckland on Wednesday having plead guilty to the kidnapping of Jindarat Prutsiriporn. 

Prutsiriporn, 50, died in March last year after trying to flee the boot of the moving car she was being held in.

She suffered critical head injuries and died in hospital two days later. 

Justice Gilbert said Hansen had played a "relatively minor" role in the kidnapping. 

The facts of the kidnapping cannot be reported, to protect the fair trial rights of others who will stand trial in May. 

In sentencing Hansen, Justice Gilbert said he had received character references from Hansen's family and friends who said the offending was out of character for her.

Hansen had offered to meet with the victim's family for a restorative justice session but they had declined. 

Hansen had no relevant previous convictions and had taken full responsibility for her offending, Justice Gilbert said. 

He sentenced her to 11 months' home detention.