Niklas Gebhardt was jailed after being convicted of manslaughter, causing the death of his son Lachlan in November 2019.
Lachlan’s heartbroken mother, Kim Manson, called her ex-partner, Niklas Gebhardt, a “coward” and a “monster” when he was jailed in 2022.
Gebhardt – a former footballer who claimed he had amnesia and could not remember why he drove off the road – was sentenced to five years in prison.
Gebhardt, now aged 35, was released from prison on April 15, subject to a number of conditions, with the Parole Board ruling that his risk of reoffending was low.
Lachlan Gebhardt, 6, was killed when his father, Niklas Gebhardt, drove off the road in a fiery crash in North Canterbury in 2019.
Parole Board chair Sir Ron Young called it a “tragic” situation.
Young said Gebhardt told the board he still had no memory of the crash and “tended to revert to an explanation of a possible mechanical fault that caused him to drive in the way he did. There is no evidence to support that claim”.
“Mr Gebhardt will clearly have to come to terms that it was his irresponsible driving which caused the death of his young child,” the decision says.
The Parole Board were “satisfied he is no longer an undue risk”.
At sentencing in 2022, defence counsel Andrew McCormick acknowledged an “absolute tragedy” that had “affected many, many people”.
Justice Jan-Marie Doogue found his driving was “highly dangerous and reckless”, telling Gebhardt that he breached the precious trust his young son would’ve had in him.
“Lachlan should’ve expected to be safe in the hands of his father.
“He was completely at the mercy of your decision-making that day.”
The judge heard that Gebhardt lacked insight into his offending and had not taken responsibility for it.
McCormick said Gebhardt could not remember why he had driven off the road. He was now a broken man, he said, suffering from diagnosed “complicated grief”.
The court heard that Gebhardt drove off the road at high speed through the bend of Lehmans Rd and River Rd near Rangiora Racecourse, North Canterbury, on November 5, 2019.
The car launched 24m in the air before it hit a tree 7m higher than its take-off point.
It burst into flames and Lachlan died at the scene.
On November 5, 2019, Gebhardt picked up Lachlan from Dudley Park swimming pool in Rangiora, leaving at 4.08pm, with Lachlan in the back seat of his Mazda.
Gebhardt drove along Lehmans Rd on the westerly outskirts of Rangiora, faster than the posted 80km/h limit. He swerved sharply when he passed a vehicle and had to get back to avoid an oncoming vehicle.
At the end of the straight was a sharp right-hand corner with a 25km/h advised speed.
Police estimated his speed at about 130km/h when he reached the turn, but he made no effort to brake, slow, or swerve.
The car hit the speed sign, went up a stopbank and became airborne before hitting a tree. The car spun to the ground and caught fire.
Members of the public called emergency services and dragged Gebhardt out. But the fire prevented them from getting back to the car.
