KEY POINTS:
The father of a 13-year-old girl who was raped, tortured and murdered says he hopes his daughter's killer can one day rebuild his life.
Paul Joseph Dally was convicted of the murder of Lower Hutt schoolgirl Karla Cardno in 1990.
Dally kidnapped Karla in Lower Hutt on May 26, 1989, took her to his home and raped and tortured her.
He then drove her to the Pencarrow coast, near Eastbourne, bludgeoned her with a piece of driftwood and buried her, still alive, in the sand.
Yesterday, more than 19 years after the killing, Dally was denied parole when the board ruled that he was at a medium- to high-risk of reoffending.
However, the board also recommended Dally be moved into a minimum security self-care unit within the prison.
"This should not however, be misinterpreted by him. It is not to be seen as a reintegrative step," the board said.
Gary Duffin, Karla's father, told The Dominion Post he did not mind Dally being moved into self-care and one day being freed .
"I was furious before, I wanted to get into the prison and kill him. Then something happened and I didn't feel hate any more, I felt a bit of pity," Mr Duffin said.
"I've forgiven him because I know my daughter would have forgiven him and she would want me to do the same.
"I hope he gets rehabilitated for himself. He's not proud of what he's done and if he had to live his life over again, I'm pretty sure he'd take another track."
Mr Duffin said his decision to show mercy had disgusted the community, with friends ignoring him in the street.
The subject of what happened to Karla was no longer discussed among the family, Mr Duffin said , with some family unable to even stay in Lower Hutt where they had always lived.
Mr Duffin said he was hurt by how Dally had been allowed to complete degrees in computer studies while in prison, and in an ironic twist, had become an anti-violence facilitator.
"He's done everything you can think of and we're out here bitter and arguing. It's terrible."
- NZPA
