RSA getaway driver Darnell Tupe paroled – It’s now time for the community to play its part

The Parole Board has acted wisely in granting parole to Darnell Tupe, the man who drove the getaway car for RSA triple-murderer William Bell, says Kim Workman, of Rethinking Crime and Punishment. “It’s now time for the community to play its part.”

Tupe, 33, who was serving a 12-year sentence for manslaughter and aggravated robbery, was granted parole at his most recent hearing with restrictions on where he can live and a curfew of 8pm to 6am every day. His sentence was due to end on December 14 2013, and has previously been denied parole three times.

“The worst thing the Parole Board could have done, is hold Tupe in prison until the end of his sentence. In its recent annual report, it the Parole Board points to overseas studies which show that managed release on parole with a right of recall is three to four times more successful in preventing re-offending than automatic release at end of sentence By putting strict requirements around Tupe, it can do its best to limit his reoffending even further.”

“What Tupe now needs is community support with pro-social role models speaking into his life- and holding him accountable for his behaviour on an ongoing basis. The last thing he needs is the sort of treatment that Baily Junior Kurariki received, where everyone went out of their way to make his life a misery.”

Kim Workman
Director
Rethinking Crime and Punishment

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