Parole Board may free double killer

Convicted double murderer David Tamihere. Photo / NZH

Convicted double murderer David Tamihere could be released from prison later this year after the Parole Board requested a report on his suitability for "residential restrictions", which would see him released under similar conditions to offenders on home detention.

Tamihere was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1990 for the murders of Swedish tourists Urban Hoglin and Heidi Paakkonen in the Coromandel in 1990.

He had skipped bail for a 1986 rape and was on the run when the murders were committed, and had a manslaughter conviction for the 1972 death of an Auckland prostitute.

He has maintained his innocence throughout his 21-year imprisonment and made a number of appeals against the conviction.

In a decision released today, the Parole Board said it had had "vigorous and robust discussions" with Tamihere over his involvement in the tourists' deaths, but he had always been "adamant" in his denial.

The board was satisfied it could "take that discussion no further".

He is staying in the self-care units at Waikato's Spring Hill prison and a family plan for his release has the board's support.

The first part of the plan would see him living at a withheld address for a short time, and the board had asked for a residential restrictions report, which would look at his suitability for release conditions similar to home detention, including wearing an ankle bracelet and being unable to go beyond the boundaries of his residence.

Parolees under residential restrictions are able to work and attend programmes to address their offending, and can be recalled to prison if they breach their conditions.

"We are not sure about whether residential restrictions should be an important part of any future release yet but we ask for that to be investigated in the usual way so that it is an option before the board," the report said.

Tamihere had been on a number of home leaves which had "gone very well indeed", and was due to have another soon, and the support from his wife and children had been "strong and unwavering" during his 21 years in prison.

The board said Tamihere had made a "remarkable breakthrough" by graduating from the Adult Sex Offenders Programme because he had previously been "very treatment resistant", the board said.

A report from the programme said he had made remarkable changes and had become "quite open about all aspects of his past".

A psychologist's report said he was at high risk of reoffending but showed an increased ability of managing that risk.

Tamihere's parole application was adjourned until November for a final residential restrictions report.

A decision on his release then would be "based on his continuing efforts to improve himself and on the way in which the plan can be implemented", the board said.

The board said it supported his home leaves continuing, along with his living in the self-care units and his prison employment as a painter.

- NZPA