Sick man wants brother freed

Henry Matafeo with mother Anne. Picture / Paul Estcourt

A cancer-stricken prisoner released to spend his final months at home now hopes his co-offender brother will be out of jail before he dies.

Henry Matafeo, who has between three and six months to live, arrived by ambulance at his family home in Papakura yesterday.

His mother Anne, sisters and other members of his whanau were waiting and marked his return with a karanga [welcoming call].

Matafeo was wheeled on a stretcher to the garage and ambulance staff settled him into a chair near a table covered with food for the family gathering.

Mrs Matafeo stroked her son's face and they both fought back tears at the bitter-sweet homecoming.

"It's the best feeling in the world to be home and have my wish come true, to be back with mum," said Matafeo.

He said the family was "missing one more person" - his younger brother Albert, who was also sentenced to five years' jail for the aggravated robbery of a Papakura service station last year.

Albert Matafeo is not due to be released for another 2 1/2 years but is appealing his sentence today.

"[Hopefully] things will go good and he'll be back soon," said Matafeo. "If all goes well, which I pray it will, he should be home this year."

Mrs Matafeo said her sons had pleaded guilty to the crime and were ordered to serve a minimum of five years in prison. Albert Matafeo is asking for his sentence to be reduced and will apply for home detention if his appeal is successful.

Mrs Matafeo said Henry was "unsettled" over leaving his brother behind in prison.

Parole Board chairman Judge David Carruthers said Matafeo was not a danger to the community and his final months would be spent in "terrible pain".

The victim supported his early release on compassionate grounds.

Matafeo said the victim's backing had no doubt influenced the Parole Board.

"It's because of him I've come home, I reckon. I'll always be sorry for what I did."

Matafeo had written to the victim a number of times to say sorry but they had not met since the aggravated robbery.

The case

Henry Matafeo was sentenced to five years' jail for the aggravated robbery of a Papakura service station last year.

The attendant was beaten unconscious with a pipe.

Matafeo had served 10 months of his sentence before the Parole Board granted him compassionate release.