Paul Joseph Dally

Overview

Paul Joseph Dally kidnapped Karla Cardno, 13, in Lower Hutt on May 26, 1989. He raped and tortured her in his home, then drove her to the Pencarrow coast and buried her alive in the sand.

The offence

Karla Cardno, aged 13, set off from home on the evening of Friday 26 May 1989 to go to the Taita shops. These shops were only a few blocks away and she had made the journey many times before.

As time passed, Karla’s mother became concerned that she had not arrived home. When she came to the intersection of Churton Crescent and Taine Street, she found the bicycle Karla had been riding to the shops. After checking the surrounding streets, she hurried home to phone the police about her daughter’s disappearance.

Investigation

The police had received disturbing reports from witnesses in the local video parlour who had seen Karla that night in a highly distressed state in the shopping centre.

Fears for her safety were now valid. Police began a large scale search, including a door to door canvas and questioning all residents in the surrounding area.

By Sunday, 28 May, Karla had still not been found.

Police inquiries led them to question Paul Joseph Dally, who was living in Churton Crescent, Taita. Dally told police he was at home with his wife and three children on the night Karla disappeared. When the police approached him, he was vacuuming the boot of his car.

Further investigation established that Dally’s wife and kids had left him three weeks before. Witnesses told police they had seen Dally at different times on the Saturday and Sunday after Karla’s disappearance around the Pencarrow coastal area.

Dally was re-interviewed and attempted to commit suicide by pill overdose.

Police conducted a comprehensive search of Dally’s home. Forensic examination of the hair and fibres taken from the house were found to be those of Karla.

Timeline

• 26 May 1989 — Karla Cardno set off from home to go to the Taita shops.
• 28 May 1989 — Karla was still not found.
• Three weeks before the investigation — Dally’s wife and kids had left him.
• 8 July 1989 — Paul Dally was charged with murder.
• March 1990 — Paul Dally was sentenced to life imprisonment.
• 15 September 2008 — Dally’s parole was denied.

Arrest and charges

On 8 July 1989, Paul Dally was charged with murder.

Confession and location of the body

Paul Dally confessed to killing Karla. He led police to her body on a beach at Pencarrow Head, at the entrance to Wellington harbour.

Trial

Paul Dally was found guilty.

Sentencing

Dally was sentenced to life imprisonment.

Appeals

No appeal information was included.

Outcome

Paul Dally kidnapped Karla Cardno, 13, in Lower Hutt on May 26, 1989. He raped and tortured her in his home, then drove her to the Pencarrow coast, bludgeoned her with a piece of driftwood, and buried her in the sand.

Aftermath

Parole was denied for Paul Joseph Dally, who was serving a life sentence.

A parole board decision released today said Dally was at a medium- to high-risk of reoffending. The board denied parole but recommended he be moved to a self-care unit within the prison.

"This should not however, be misinterpreted by him. It is not to be seen as a reintegrative step."

Dally’s lawyer told the board he was "motivated to obtain treatment and is cooperating with it", was having one-to-one counselling and doing a work related course.

The board acknowledged that Dally was making "steps towards doing something about his appalling behaviour in the past" but said he "must be regarded as an undue risk to the safety of the community at the present time ."

Other details

• Paul Joseph Dally lived in Churton Crescent, Taita.
• Dally’s wife and three children had left him three weeks before police inquiries.
• Witnesses reported seeing Karla in a highly distressed state in the shopping centre.
• The police search included a door to door canvas and questioning residents in the surrounding area.