New Zealand Parole Board -

Parole Hearing
Under section 21(2) of the Parole Act 2002

Ziggy Stardust BUCKERIDGE

Hearing: 24 May 2017 via AVL to [Withheld] from NZPB Head Office, Wellington

Members of the Board:

• Hon. M A Frater (Panel Convenor)
• Judge D Mather
• Dr P Taylor

Counsel:

• [Withheld]

Department of Corrections:

• [Withheld] (Psychologist)

Support Person:

• [Withheld]

DECISION OF THE BOARD

1. Fifty five year old Ziggy Stardust Buckeridge is serving a life sentence of imprisonment for the murder of a Rangiora teenager in 1992.

2. Since his index offence, 25 years ago, he has spent just over a year in the community.  He has been released and recalled twice – in 2004/2005 and 2011.

3. He has been back in prison since an interim recall order was made on 29 August 2011.

4. Mr Buckeridge is currently housed in [Withheld].

5. He is employed outside the wire [Withheld].  He is said to have an excellent work ethic.  He has not incurred any misconducts since 2013 and holds a minimum security classification.

6. He is assessed as posing a medium/high risk of sexual and/or violent re-offending.

7. Today’s hearing was adjourned from 6 March this year to enable an assessment to be undertaken by the [Withheld] as to his suitability to undertake that programme once again.

8. Unfortunately, in the two and a half months which have elapsed since then, there has been little tangible progress.  The last Board sought a report from [Withheld] from [Withheld] as to the outcome of her assessment.  We do not have it.  Instead, we have a rather confusing report from Mr Buckeridge’s current case manager.  It states on the one hand that, on 17 March the [Withheld] operational advisory panel rejected the referral and removed Mr Buckeridge from the [Withheld] waitlist.  On the other hand, the report says that the advisory panel asked for further, unspecified, information, which was forwarded earlier this month, but that a response has not yet been received.

9. In the meantime, Mr Buckeridge is in limbo.

10. There was some suggestion in earlier reports that he might be suitable for release to work at [Withheld], but they, understandably have decided that his profile is too high, and are not prepared to employ him at this stage.

11. Given the ongoing uncertainty, Mr Buckeridge has contemplated applying to move to [Withheld] to begin release to work and other reintegrative activities there.  But he knows no one in that area or, indeed, anywhere apart from [Withheld], it seems.

12. In the past Mr Buckeridge has worked with [Withheld], [Withheld], and the [Withheld] all of which operate [Withheld].  He says that he was undone by alcohol and that this time he would commit to being abstinent, if that were one of his conditions.  He said that he abides by conditions, and has not been subject to such a condition before.

13. We support Mr Buckeridge’s assessment by [Withheld] and, if he is approved by the Prison Advisory Panel, his participation in temporary releases there if that is necessary.

14. Parole is declined today.  Mr Buckeridge’s next hearing will be during the week beginning 25 September next.  If he is declined entry to the [Withheld] programme, we would support his involvement in release to work [Withheld] if available or, if necessary, at another prison.

Hon. M A Frater
Panel Convenor