John Barlow parole hearing next month

Convicted double killer John Barlow is due for a parole hearing next month, as he also awaits an appeal hearing granted by the Privy Council in London.

Barlow was found guilty at his third trial of the 1994 shootings of businessman Eugene Thomas and his son Gene in their central Wellington office. Jurors failed to reach verdicts in the first two trials.

He was jailed for a minimum of 14 years and in July this year, following unsuccessful appeals in New Zealand, the Privy Council agreed to grant an appeal.

His lawyer Greg King said afterwards there was a large amount of preparation work to be done and the hearing was not likely until next year.

He said Barlow wanted leave prison an innocent man rather than a paroled murderer.

- NZPA