A convicted killer who stabbed a friend 50 times before dumping her body down a bank is on the run from Canterbury Police.

Melissa Anne Wepa spent 15 years behind bars after being convicted in 1997 for killing Porirua woman Caroline Gardiner.

Nine months into her life sentence, Wepa, who had affiliations to the Mongrel Mob and Deadly F***ing Bitches gangs – was also charged after nearly biting off another inmate’s nipple during a fight.

In 2005, she escaped from prison with another inmate when they used a dummy in their cell beds to fool guards.

Wepa – who has a distinctive lizard tattoo on her face – escaped again while serving a three-month corrective training term at Arohata in the early 90s but was caught nearby.

Wepa was recalled to prison in 2008 by the Parole Board after a drug test indicated she had used methamphetamine and tramadol.

In 2012 she was back in court accused of breaching her parole conditions.

in 2015, Wepa appeared in court again for breaching her standard release conditions and special release conditions.

She is described as 157cm tall and of medium build.

If you see her or have any information on her whereabouts please call Police on 105, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.