Capill is 'resigned' to denial of parole

Graham Capill at his sentencing in 2005. Photo / Simon Baker

Disgraced morals campaigner Graham Capill is resigned to the fact that he will not be released from prison when he appears before the Parole Board later this month, a close supporter says.

The former police prosecutor and leader of the Christian Heritage Party is required by law to come before the board annually after serving a third of his nine-year sentence for sexually abusing girls.

Yet he felt it was a foregone conclusion because he could not get access to a programme he needed to complete, said Capill supporter Chris Baigent.

"In some respects, it's just a power play really by the prison service on the inmates."

Capill preached on moral standards for more than a decade before being sentenced to nine years' jail in 2005 for the rape, sexual violation and indecent assault of girls aged between 5 and 11.

Before being sentenced, he emailed supporters saying sexual contact with one victim was consensual, but Mr Baigent said he no longer held this view.

Capill knew he would be denied release at this month's hearing because a child sex offender programme he needed to complete was available to him only after serving two-thirds of his sentence, Mr Baigent said.

"Graham's got no hope in himself really, because he's saying, look, he knows he has to do this course. He knows he's not eligible for that. What's the point of the hearing really?"

Capill was coping with life in Canterbury's Rolleston Prison, but found it tough missing milestones such as his children getting married and the birth of a grandchild, said Mr Baigent. Hiswife, Judy, and their children visited him in prison and played board games with him.

He was involved in a gardening project, growing vegetables for the Christchurch City Mission, and spent time reading. He had been taking a horticulture course, however it was expensive and required internet access that was not available to him.

The Parole Board was meant to see Capill earlier, but postponed the hearing to this month for further consideration of psychological assessments.