New Zealand Parole Board -

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

Zakariye Mohamed HUSSEIN

Hearing: 14 February 2017 at [Withheld] (unattended)

Members of the Board:

• Mr N Trendle – Panel Convenor
• Mr L Tawera
• Mr A Hackney

Support Persons:

• [Withheld]

DECISION OF THE BOARD

1. Zakariye Mohamed Hussein was scheduled to make a further appearance before the Board on a sentence of six years, six months’ imprisonment for wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, injuring with intent to injure, kidnapping and possession of an offensive weapon.  He has 19 months remaining of that sentence with a statutory release date of 16 September 2018.

2. When Mr Hussein last appeared before the Board in July 2016, he was an inpatient in [Withheld].  Mr Hussein remains in that unit and decided somewhat belatedly not to attend today’s hearing.  Whilst he indicated to his staff nurses that he did not wish to attend, he also declined to sign a waiver.  This Board has been assisted however by a further report from Dr [Withheld] outlining the progress that Mr Hussein has made.

3. There has been a reasonable level of engagement over that period and Mr Hussein also met with the psychologist, [Withheld], to commence work to deal with issues relating to violent offending.  Mr Hussein is presently approved for escorted ground leaves, though every now and then his engagement with staff fluctuates.  Despite significant progress since he last appeared before the Board, there remains a good deal of work for Mr Hussein to do before he could be considered to meet the statutory criteria for parole.

4. His medication regime is stable and he is generally free from [Withheld].  Whilst he indicated that he did not wish to continue with [Withheld], he changed his mind and has now consented to continuing his medication regime on a four weekly basis.

5. Whilst the Board is of the view that there is some distance for Mr Hussein to go before we could be satisfied that his release would not pose an undue risk to the safety of the community, we note the progress he is making.  The parole assessment report indicated that he elected not to engage with the probation officer whose completion of that report is important so far as the Board is concerned, it is to be hoped that on the next occasion Mr Hussein is seen that he will feel able to co-operate with the probation officer.

6. Parole today is declined.  Mr Hussein will be scheduled to return to the Board in nine months’ time by 30 November 2017.  For that hearing the Board would be again assisted by a report from his responsible clinician in addition to an updating parole assessment report.

Mr N Trendle
Panel Convenor