Dying prisoner believes cancer is punishment but pleads for home

Henry Matafeo

Dying prisoner Henry Matafeo believes his terminal cancer is punishment for the aggravated robbery he committed last year.

Anne Matafeo tends to agree, but as his mother she is pleading for that punishment to end with a degree of humanity.

Mrs Matafeo wants her son, who has between six and nine months to live, released from prison so that he can die at his Papakura home surrounded by family.

"We are not looking for an exit for Henry, just compassion," said Mrs Matafeo.

"He says, 'Mum I have done wrong and this is my punishment'. But dying's enough [punishment]. I think he should be able to come home."

Matafeo, who is under guard in Auckland City Hospital's oncology ward, regrets his actions but told the Herald he did not want to die in a place where no one knew him.

"I'm totally against dying in prison because I'll die where no one I know will be.

"I may have done wrong but all I'm asking is to be given a chance to go home and live the last few days with my family."

Mrs Matafeo said she could understand why people were against a convicted and violent criminal being released before his sentence was complete.

If it had been someone else's son dying, she said, she too would have thought that he should die in custody. But as Henry's mother it was not that easy.

She could not stand by and leave him to die in a hospital or prison bed when there was a chance he could be released early on compassionate grounds.

Mrs Matafeo has spent three months fighting for that release. She also has the support of her son's victim, the attendant who was working at Shell Kingsway in Papakura on the night of the robbery.

The victim, who had a restorative justice meeting with Mrs Matafeo, has told the Parole Board he supports Matafeo's early release.

Mrs Matafeo said it was important the public realised that her son would not be going home to party or continue with his life before prison.

He had little control of his bowels and bladder and could no longer walk, let alone go out to a pub or party, she said.

"By no means will Henry get away with what he has done. The sentence will continue at home."

After three months of assessing Matafeo's case, the Corrections Department will pass its recommendation to the Parole Board tomorrow. The board's decision is expected next week.