Ewen Macdonald has been denied parole at his third Parole Board hearing, more than three years into a five year jail sentence.
Ewen Macdonald. Photo: RNZ
Macdonald was found not guilty of the 2010 murder of his brother-in-law, Scott Guy, but was later jailed for five years for arson, vandalism and killing livestock. He has been in custody since April 2011.
In today's decision, the Parole Board said he still posed an undue risk to the safety of the community.
The ruling is the third Macdonald has had his application for parole turned down.
He was denied parole last November when the Parole Board said he posed a clinically significant risk of reoffending.
A forensic psychiatric assessment of Macdonald found he suffered from a significant personality disturbance and had failed to address behavioural issues relating to revenge and envy.
Scott Guy's father, Bryan Guy, said the right decision had been made.
"We're pleased that he is going to spend a bit more time serving his sentence, and there's consequences when you do crimes like he's admitted to," he said.
"So we're pleased that he's going to be there for a bit longer yet."
Mr Guy said his family was firmly focused on looking after each other, including Macdonald's four children, and was not spending too much time worrying about parole board hearings.
Commenting on reports Macdonald had been doing work in the community, he said it was important the prison system did not take it too easy on him.
Scott Guy's wife, Kylee, travelled to Christchurch for today's hearing.
Timeline
- July 2010 - Scott Guy found gunned down at the end of the driveway to his Fielding dairy farm.
- April 2011 - Scott Guy's brother-in-law, Ewen Macdonald, arrested for his murder.
- June 2012 - Ewen Macdonald goes on trial at the High Court in Wellington.
- July 2012 - Macdonald found not guilty of Scott Guy's murder.
- Sept 2012 - Macdonald sentenced to five years for other offences, including burning down an old house on Scott Guy's property, vandalising his new home and killing calves.
- Dec 2012 - Macdonald denied parole on his first appearance before the board
- Nov 2013 - Macdonald denied parole a second time