Timothy David TAYLOR - 05/12/2016

Parole hearing

Under section 21(2) of the Parole Act 2002

Timothy David TAYLOR

Hearing: 5 December 2016 at [Withheld]

Members of the Board:

  • Hon. MA Frater (Panel Convenor)
  • Dr J Skipworth
  • Ms P Rose
  • Ms F Pimm

In attendance:

  • [Withheld]

Counsel:

  • [Withheld]
  • [Withheld]

Support Persons:

  • [Withheld]
  • [Withheld]
  • [Withheld]
  • [Withheld]
  • [Withheld]

DECISION OF THE BOARD

1. Forty six year old Timothy David Taylor is serving a life sentence of imprisonment having been found guilty following a jury trial of murdering Lisa Blakie on 2 February 2000. He continues to maintain that he was wrongly convicted.

2. When he appeared before the Board in January 2016 Mr Taylor acknowledged being involved in introducing contraband into the prison in October the previous year.  [Withheld]   It is of concern that he was involved in bringing in contraband after he completed the STURP programme – an intensive and extended programme aimed at high risk offenders, and did not disclose what was happening for about a year

3. Mr Taylor has a security classification of low. He is currently housed in a hut unit. He and others were moved from the self care units while they are being rebuilt to house offenders subject to Public Protection Orders. He is employed in the Prison Administration Block and oversees work in his unit garden, which is said to have assisted him to develop problem solving and prioritising skills. But he has not been able to move outside the wire or engage in any reintegrative activities. Apart from a misconduct for a minor breach, there have been no concerns about Mr Taylor’s behaviour during the past year.

4. Mr Taylor has applied to be accepted for [Withheld] to assist him with release, but is awaiting a response from them.

5. Although we do not discount the possibility of his eventual release through [Withheld]  – indeed it is probably the most appropriate avenue for parole in his case - that is unlikely to happen in the near future, or for some time yet.  [Withheld], it is clear that he needs to be tested over an extended period before he can demonstrate that he will not pose an undue risk to the safety of the community.

6. Parole is declined.  Mr Taylor’s next hearing will be in August or September 2018 and must be held, in any event, before the end of September.

7. Finally, we note that we also spoke to Mr Taylor about the meeting which we had with members of the victim’s family, earlier today.  We also talked with him about the letter written by the victim’s [Withheld].  He appreciates the victims’ opposition to his release and the reasons for it.

Hon. MA Frater
Panel Convenor