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The chief executive of the Department of Corrections, Barry Matthews, has told State Services Commissioner Mark Prebble he regrets saying "there is no blood on my hands" when he was asked at a press conference about the murder committed by Graeme Burton.
Burton, a convicted murderer, was released from prison on parole and during his six months of freedom he killed Karl Kuchenbecker.
The National Party criticised Mr Matthews for making the comment, saying it was insensitive and amounted to a refusal to accept any responsibility.
The party's corrections spokesman, Simon Power, wrote to Dr Prebble yesterday asking whether the comment was "appropriate behaviour" from a public sector chief executive.
In his response to Mr Power, released today, Dr Prebble said he had discussed the comment with Mr Matthews.
"He tells me he made a mistake in his response to a question from a journalist," Dr Prebble said in his letter to Mr Power.
"The journalist put a quotable line to him, and he made the mistake, in the heat of the moment, of repeating that line back to the journalist.
"Barry regrets the comment very much."
Dr Prebble went on to assure Mr Power that Mr Matthews, and other public servants involved, were "acutely aware of the appalling nature of this tragedy" and were determined to make improvements to reduce the risk of such events happening again.
- NZPA
