The mother of NRL superstar Payne Haas underwent an extraordinary transformation while in custody in a detention unit cell, prison officers say.
Uiatu “Joan” Taufua remains in custody and faces multiple charges following a fatal car crash which killed three people in Bonogin, on the Gold Coast, last December.
She was transferred from the South Queensland Correctional Center to Brisbane Women’s Prison earlier this year after allegedly confronting a female inmate.
Prison officials revealed that Taufua had settled into a routine since her transfer where she exercised “relentlessly” and lost weight, the prison official said. Courier mail reported.
Uiatu ‘Joan’ Taufua (pictured) has undergone a drastic transformation since being moved to a detention unit cell
Uiatu ‘Joan’ Taufua remains in custody following fiery crash that claimed three lives
Prisoners held in special detention cannot communicate freely with other inmates as in standard units. Some cells also have no power, without television or radio.
Inmates are placed in special holding cells in cases of bad behavior, “misconduct,” or other disciplinary matters.
It is unclear how long Taufua will remain in a cell in the detention unit.
“This is usually reviewed monthly, but it could be sooner,” an official told the publication.
“She might even prefer it.” She has a routine, exercises a lot and has lost weight.
Taufua faces three counts of manslaughter after his black Mercedes wagon crashed head-on into a silver Mercedes and a power pole at Bonogin, in the Gold Coast hinterland, on December 30.
Prison officers say Uiatu “Joan” Taufua now looks very different to how she was when she was transported to the monitoring station from Gold Coast University Hospital in January, several days after the accident.
All three people in the silver Mercedes – Chris Fawcett, 79, his partner Susan Zimmer, 70, and his daughter Stephanie, 35 – died in the crash.
Police say Taufua was seen “driving erratically” shortly before the crash and fled after a patrol car activated lights and sirens in an attempt to stop him.
A minute after leaving the car, police say Taufua veered onto the wrong side of Bonogin Road around 5 p.m., where she hit the Mercedes.
She was also charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, evading police, driving without a license and mid-range drunk driving.
During Taufua’s last court appearance, his lawyers raised concerns about his health and hired an expert to produce a medical report.
His case was adjourned until December 21.
Susan Zimmer, 70 (right) and her daughter Stephanie, 35 (left) died in the horror crash
Her son, Brisbane Boncos star Payne Haas, previously revealed he struggled to accept his mother was behind bars.
“I’m not going to lie and say it’s been easy. It’s been really difficult,” he told Nine Newspapers.
I’m lucky to have a good support network around me, I have my partner (Leilani) and my daughter (Lalita).
“I’m (also) close to mom – I’m a mama’s boy.”
Uiatu ‘Joan’ Taufua is the mother of Brisbone Broncos NRL star Payne Haas (pictured playing for Australia last month)
