Parole report 'offensive', wife of murderer says

John Barlow has served 14 years in prison for killing two men.

The wife of double murderer John Barlow has described as "totally offensive" a report denying him parole which says it was uncertain she would alert police if an unsafe situation arose after his release.

Barlow is serving a life sentence at Rimutaka Prison for the execution-style shootings of Wellington father and son Eugene and Gene Thomas in 1994.

The Parole Board refused to release him after a psychological assessment described the 63-year-old as a "manipulative" controlling figure.

It said Barlow also had a "completely inappropriate attitude to guns".

The board acknowledged the "outstanding" support of his wife Angela Barlow, who had visited him in prison once a week for more than 14 years.

But it described her as "uncritical" of her husband, and said it was not convinced she would speak up if difficulties arose after his release.

"Given his intelligence and quite dominant personality, there would seem to us to be no real chance of anyone within his close vicinity alerting the appropriate authorities if an unsafe situation were to arise following release," it said.

Angela Barlow had told the board the question of her alerting the police was "irrelevant", but it was concerned Barlow's controlling personality would quieten her.

Mrs Barlow today rejected this suggestion, saying she found it "totally offensive".

She said that her husband had agreed that he would not have firearms anywhere near the house, nor would he associate with anyone with firearms, but that this was not mentioned in the board's findings.

If there were any concerns about her husband's behaviour after his release, she would "of course" inform authorities.

She told the Herald last night she was "shocked and devastated" by the board's decision.

She said she believed her husband was unjustly denied parole because of a hardline climate on bail and parole offenders.

"The political climate has made it very difficult for him. Right now people are hard on bail, hard on parole. They are letting the wrong people out, and keeping in someone who deserves to be out."

Mrs Barlow rejected the board's descriptions of his interest in guns and manipulative personality.

"It is absolutely made up. He had guns but that was just because he collected everything. The comments about his attitude - I have been married to him for 39 years and he is not like that to me. It offends me."

Firearms concerns

The assessment by psychologist Dr Nick Wilson said Barlow had been well-behaved in prison and was at a low risk of re-offending.

But the board said his comments about the importance of firearms were "breathtaking" and "of considerable concern".

The board concluded that Barlow had a sense of entitlement with regard to protecting himself, and could exercise this entitlement in "easily imagined circumstances."

Around the time of his trial Barlow told police that Americans who had firearms for protection hardly ever used them and "hardly anyone was ever shot".

He admitted lending weapons to others "for their protection", and classed that breach of the law as on the same level as speeding.

His bail was revoked because two firearms were found hidden in his house, despite him being required to surrender firearms. The guns were hidden in the insulation in the ceiling and inside a grandfather clock.

He was described as using "florid and extravagant language" in referring to having had two guns for protection against people who might be threatening to him.

'Elitist interpersonal style'

Barlow denies killing the Thomases, and is awaiting a decision from the Privy Council in London on an appeal lodged in February.

A parole hearing in November was adjourned to allow for further psychological testing.

The subsequent psychological report said Barlow had "a superficial elitist interpersonal style that is usually characterised by an internal strong focus and entitlement beliefs."

He had denied having a manipulative personality, but the board felt his controlling nature could prevent any dangerous behaviour after his release from being revealed.

The Parole Board also took into account strong opposition from the victims' families to Barlow's release. Letters from the families said his double killing continued to cause deep distress and damage.

But the board said it supported reintegrative leave for Barlow, as he was in the reintegrative phase of his sentence.

"Release to work and graduated home leaves will be appropriate in a safe planned way at this time."

Barlow was drug-free, kept himself busy in prison and was well-behaved.

- With NZPA