Jailed euthansia campaigner turned down for home detention

7.00pm

The Parole Board has turned down an application for home detention by jailed euthanasia campaigner Lesley Martin because of her refusal to give up her campaign.

In April, Martin was jailed for 15 months by the High Court in Wanganui for the attempted murder of her terminally ill mother.

The court heard Martin, a former nurse, had injected 69-year-old Joy Martin with 60mg of morphine in May 1999.

Martin wrote a book about the experience and mounted a media campaign to legalise euthanasia, repeatedly appearing on television.

In the decision made public today, the board told Martin it drew "a sharp distinction between breaking the law and attempting to change it".

It had concerns about the risk Martin posed to the community, considering her position of influence "while you stand by your earlier comment ... you would do the same again, or help others to do the same in the current legal environment".

The prospect of her rehabilitation was "unrealistic" and the board was not satisfied she was suitable for home detention, it said.

Martin's application would be reconsidered if she gave her "unqualified acceptance" that she should not have broken the law, and promised not to undertake "any public or media activity" until her release date of December 13 this year.

In making its decision the board took into account the nature of the offence and weighed up the likelihood of Martin reoffending, the decision said.

Martin's lawyers filed appeals against her conviction and sentence in May.

Initially she did not wish to apply for home detention, despite the wishes of her supporters. She is serving her sentence in Arohata Prison in Wellington.

- NZPA