Double killer up for parole hearing

Convicted double murderer John Barlow will have his second Parole Board hearing this week.

Barlow was convicted in 1995 of the execution-style killings of Wellington father and son businessmen Eugene and Gene Thomas the previous year.

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.

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

"We are not prepared to take the risk of releasing him at this time," the board's decision read.

However, the board said it did support reintegrative 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 last year was rejected.

The Parole Board's next decision would be released within a week, a spokeswoman said.

- NZPA