Government orders inquiry into Bell parole breach claim

By PATRICK GOWER

The Government has ordered an inquiry into claims that RSA killer William Bell slipped through the probation system and was not fulfilling parole conditions before he bashed three people to death.

Corrections Minister Mark Gosche called for the urgent review last night, saying he was "deeply concerned" after receiving departmental advice that Bell had breached parole conditions.

Bell was released from prison in June last year, part way through a five-year sentence for robbery. The crime was so violent the judge said that Bell could have been going to prison for murder.

Bell would have been required to meet parole conditions when he was released.

The family of Susan Couch, the only survivor of Bell's attack at the RSA, say they have been told by a police insider that there was a "cock-up" at the probation service that began on Bell's first day out of prison.

Stephen Couch said the officer was told about the breakdown when interviewing probation staff for the murder inquiry.

"[Bell] screwed up a sheet of instructions about what he was meant to do. Then he didn't tell him his address, contact details and walked out," said Mr Couch.

"At that stage he was in direct violation of parole and they could have done the paperwork and put him away again."

Mr Couch said he was told about the breach of parole in February because "the police couldn't say anything and they wanted someone to make some noise".

He made approaches to the Department of Corrections in April but gave up after "being unable to find anyone with any intelligence".

"Everyone was running and hiding and saying the court case was in session."

A spokeswoman for Mr Gosche said he was told of the breach on Tuesday, the day the jury was to return its verdicts.

The Department of Corrections probe is the second Government review related to Bell.

The Minister of Police, George Hawkins, asked police about their ability to respond to crimes after the Weekend Herald revealed that police had two chances to arrest Bell for property offences in the week before the RSA killings.

Opposition leader Bill English continued to criticise the Government on that issue in Parliament yesterday, saying Bell may never have been able to commit the crimes if police were better resourced.

After Acting Police Minister Paul Swain rejected a call for an investigation into the events leading up to the murders, Mr English accused the Government of "shrugging off" the idea of an investigation, saying they seemed "relaxed" that Bell's name was given to police in connection with the burglary and "unconcerned" that he had been released on parole five months before the triple murders.

Police do not accept that they would have averted the murders had they followed the leads.

The Department of Corrections yesterday refused to comment on Bell's involvement with the probation service.

A spokesman said if any incidents such as that alleged with Bell were reported they would be reviewed and changes made where necessary.

Mr Couch said he was pleased to hear there would be a review "but I would prefer that it was done out in the open and out of the Government framework".

Act MP Stephen Franks said he was contacted by Mr Couch this year after he was unable to get any response from the Department of Corrections.

"It didn't surprise me at all. Most of the serious offenders are offending on parole."

Mr Franks said the department was adept at suppressing information when there were serious flaws in the parole system.

Club president Alan Eastwood, who found the bodies at the RSA, said he was unaware that Bell had breached his parole conditions but welcomed the review.

"Obviously we would be disappointed [if there was a failure]. We will watch with interest."

Mr Eastwood, a former police officer who served 33 years in uniform and 12 years as a civilian until his retirement this year, also said he did not blame police for not following up the earlier crimes.

He said it was "common knowledge" that Auckland police were short-staffed.