New Zealand Parole Board -

Parole Hearing

Under section 21(1) of the Parole Act 2002

Christopher Wayne PATTERSON

Hearing: 2 December 2020

at Christchurch Men’s Prison

Members of the Board: Sir R Young – Chairperson

Ass. Prof. P Brinded

Dr G Coyle

In Attendance: (withheld) – Reintegration Co-ordinator

(withheld) – Case Manager

DECISION OF THE BOARD

1. Mr Patterson is 50 years of age.  He was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder in 2008.  This is his first time before the Board.
2. His security classification is minimum, he did have previous convictions involving violence and the abuse of alcohol.
3. As far as the facts are concerned, he stabbed to death a young man that he had befriended.  The circumstances of the murder are somewhat unusual, and we spent some time talking with Mr Patterson as to the reasons behind the murder.
4. Currently his explanation is, as we understand it, as follows.  The young man that he killed had had a car accident.  In the accident a young boy was hurt.  The father of the boy was apparently a gang member.  Mr Patterson said he became concerned that the young man would be killed by the father of the boy in retribution for the injury from the car accident.  The young man was therefore encouraged to go to Australia however the plans did not work out and he returned to be with Mr Patterson and his partner.
5. Mr Patterson says that his partner convinced him that either the young man was to be killed  for causing the injury to the boy or he (Mr Paterson) was to be killed in substitute and so it was a case of him or me and  so Mr Patterson killed the young man.
6. As the psychologist noted, the explanation given by Mr Patterson as to the reasons for the killing are certainly strange.  However, Mr Patterson has recently begun the STURP programme.  In our discussion with him, he did acknowledge the strangeness of the circumstances and motive for the killing.
7. He accepts that he needs to complete the STURP programme and then a review will be undertaken as to whether he needs to do the Drug Treatment Programme.  We note that he does appear to have had a significant history of, at least, alcohol abuse.
8. The other factor that we mention is that in the psychological report there is mention of a (withheld) to Mr Patterson.  He mentioned two motor vehicle accidents where he had had a (withheld).  In those circumstances we think it appropriate that there be a (withheld) and if that test shows the need (withheld) then we invite Psychological Services to provide that report.
9. In the meantime, Mr Patterson remains an undue risk.  We will see him again by the end of August 2022.
10. Finally, we mention we briefly advised Mr Patterson that we had seen the victims and that they opposed his release on parole.
11. Mr Patterson’s response was that he could completely understand why they would not wish him to be released on parole.