New Zealand Parole Board -

Parole hearing

Under section 21(2) of the Parole Act 2002

 

Carlos NAMANA

Hearing: 5 April 2016  at [Withheld]
 
Members of the Board:

       Hon. JW Gendall QC – Panel Convenor
       Judge P Gittos
       Assoc. Prof. P Brinded
       Mr L Comer

In attendance:  

       [Withheld]

Support Person: 

       [Withheld]

DECISION OF THE BOARD

1. Carlos Namana is serving a life sentence, with a minimum non-parole period of 16 years, imposed on 20 October 1999 for the murder of a police constable in Mangakino.  Mr Namana was then aged 18 and has spent the last 18 years of his life in prison.  

2. He reached his parole eligibility date on 28 May 2015 and was then seen by the Board for the first time.  It noted that he was then in the six months Drug Treatment Unit programme which he successfully completed in October 2015.  He commenced the STURP treatment programme on 22 February 2016 and is currently on week four of that treatment.  He is making very good progress and has the strong support of a supporter who was present and spoke to us in very positive terms about Mr Namana.

3. Obviously Mr Namana needs to successfully complete the STURP programme and prepare a relapse prevention plan.  He has approved accommodation with [Withheld]. He is said to have high reintegration needs. That is not surprising given his lengthy time in prison. Once his rehabilitation treatment is finished, sound and sensible decisions will have to be made as to his reintegration pathway.  [Withheld] We understand that there may be the opportunity for Mr Namana and others in his position to apply to the Internal Advisory panel for reassessment of that question on an individual basis.  Certainly Mr Namana was previously in Internal Self Care and his progress to date might warrant further consideration.

4. He is not seeking parole today and of course there is much more for him to do but his rehabilitation progress is very encouraging.  Parole must be declined because he does not meet the statutory criteria and he will be seen again in the week commencing 7 November 2016.

 

Hon. JW Gendall QC
Panel Convenor