Javed Mills was killed by his flatmate, who is now seeking parole. Photo /supplied
Javed Mills was killed by his flatmate, who is now seeking parole. Photo /supplied
A man jailed for killing his flatmate and covering up the fatal act - hiding the victim's body parts around an Auckland property and trying to convince his family he was still alive - will not be released early from prison.
Javed Mills' incomplete skeleton was found at a Mt Wellington property in Auckland in September 2011 as demolition work was scheduled to begin.
James Grant Cooper, his former flatmate, was charged with murdering the 25-year-old.
He never disputed his involvement in the death and pleaded guilty to covering it up, but denied murder and claimed he killed Mills accidentally in self-defence.
In August 2013 Cooper was found not guilty of murder - but guilty of his manslaughter.
He has about one year and nine months remaining on his sentence.
Javed Mills. In 2011 his skeleton, minus the skull, was discovered in the garage of a house in Mt Wellington. Photo / supplied
Cooper appeared before the board last year and was also refused parole.
At that hearing the board supported Cooper completing a "medium intensity rehabilitation programme" and requested a psychological report.
Despite being referred for the programme, Cooper has not been able to complete it in prison.
His lawyers filed submissions to the board saying the fact he'd not done the programme was through no fault of his own.
The lawyer said Cooper had not incurred any misconduct charges in prison and had been "compliant with a positive approach".
He said Cooper "is willing to care for, and does care for, disabled prisoners", had maintained a drug-user free status and had continued to make progress "notwithstanding the prison's inability to admit" him to an appropriate rehabilitation programme.
Part of that progress included Cooper completing courses on employability and budgeting skills.
He had also started employment and training in the connex industry in the electrical workshop.
"Unit staff report that he is 'very compliant and supportive to staff'," the lawyer told the board.
"Mr Cooper has progressed to a self-care residence where he is able to practise learned skills in anticipation of release.
"Mr Cooper seeks parole and the opportunity to undertake rehabilitation in the community."
Javed Mills' mother, Lichelle Mills. Photo / Jason Dorday
The board agreed that while there were "no issues" in the prison setting, Cooper simply had not addressed rehabilitation.
"It is counsel's submission that Mr Cooper has made progress and has demonstrated that his risk has been reduced. Any residual risk can be managed in the community," said board panel convenor Tania Williams-Blyth.
"Mr Cooper says that he has been trying to do the best that he can in the prison setting. He referred to his work in the electrical workshop, his assistance to a previous disabled cellmate and the fact that he has a strong relapse prevention plan.
"He commented that, prior to prison, he was a habitual drinker after work. He described his use as moderate to heavy.
"After completing the Drug Treatment Programme he says he is no longer interested in drinking alcohol."
Cooper told the board that the strongest tool he has learnt while being in prison is communication and he was now "able to ask people for help including staff and other prisoners".
"The board understands and acknowledges Mr Cooper's frustration, however, the fact remains that he has not yet completed offence focused treatment," Williams-Blyth said.
"From the board's perspective he must complete offence focused treatment for the board to say that his risk is no longer undue.
"We acknowledge the good work that Mr Cooper has done but reiterate previous board decisions that Mr Cooper must complete the rehabilitation programme or one-to-one work with a psychologist to address his offending needs."
Williams-Blyth said the principal Corrections officer at the prison where Cooper was serving his sentence had assured the board she would "do her utmost to ensure that the programme is made available" to him.
