Double killer Barlow freed from jail

John Barlow during his 1995 trial. Photo / Martin Hunter

Convicted double murderer John Barlow is to be released from prison on parole.

The Parole Board announced it had held a hearing today and Barlow would be released next week.

Special conditions he must adhere to for five years include living at an address approved by his probation officer, not to possess firearms, not to contact any former inmates or have any contact with the victims' families.

Barlow was found guilty at his third trial and convicted in 1995 of the execution-style killings of Wellington father and son businessmen Eugene and Gene Thomas.

In two previous trials the juries were not able to come to unanimous verdict.

He was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum non-parole period of 14 years after being convicted in a rare third trial, but maintained his innocence.

Barlow was denied parole last April when the Parole Board found he had "a completely inappropriate attitude to guns".

However, the board said it did support reintegrated leave for Barlow, saying he was clearly in that phase of his sentence.

"Release to work and graduated home leaves will be appropriate in a safe planned way at this time."

His final appeal to the Privy Council in London in February, 2008, was rejected.

Barlow's defence lawyer Greg King took his case to the Privy Council and argued that evidence given by a ballistics scientist has since been discredited.

Charles Peters testified in 1995 that forensic testing known as comparative lead bullet analysis showed bullets found at the crime scene matched those belonging to Barlow.

The tests have since been discredited worldwide for providing a high number of false matches.

Barlow had argued that he had lent his gun and bullets to Eugene Thomas who wanted them to defend himself, weeks before the murder.

On stumbling across the bodies of Eugene and Gene Thomas, Barlow thought the older man had used the gun to kill his son, then himself, in a murder-suicide.

Barlow panicked, took the gun and fled the scene.

Both Barlow and his wife, Angela, have maintained his innocence.

Barlow's daughter Keryn, who has an honours degree in criminology, has written a book about the case, which her mother said could be released later this year.

The full Parole Board decision is likely to be available next week.

- NZPA with NZ Herald staff