MEDIA RELEASE

24-11-07

 
Another Parole Scandal

Corrections say they cannot relocate killer as it would be infringe his rights, but his victim lives in fear and has nightmares

When Graeme Burton killed Karl Kuchenbecker the public were assured parole conditions would be tightened and loop-holes would be closed, but it appears nothing much has changed. Scandal has followed scandal, now yet another debacle emerges.

The Weekend Herald revealed that a murderer has been released on Parole and allowed to live next door to the daughter of the woman he killed.

The Sensible Sentencing Trust acknowledges giving the information to the Herald because the Parole Board had done nothing to remedy this “disastrous and unforgivable mistake.”

Trust Spokesman Garth McVicar said he gave the Parole Board seven days to rectify the botch-up or the Trust would have no option but to take further action.

“When I received the original phone call we decided to give the Parole Board an opportunity to rectify the problem and move the offender, we realize the Board are under tremendous pressure and thought we would do the right thing.”

“The Parole Board said it was the responsibility of the Probation Service, but the Board is responsible for the conditions an offender is released under so we are holding them responsible for this botch-up,” McVicar said.

“We have also notified the Minister of Justice and Opposition MP’s in the hope that common sense will prevail and the offender will be moved without further delay.”

“I can’t begin to imagine what a terrible shock it must have been to this young victim to discover the man who murdered her mother was living right next door.”

“We realize of course that with the astronomical amount of crime in New Zealand it must be getting very difficult to place these offenders but if the public cannot have faith in the placement and management of these offenders then we say they should not be released.”

The Minister of Corrections, Phil Goff said the murder’s placement was unacceptable but would not comment on what the Government would do to stop such breakdowns happening again.

Ends.

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