Ewen Macdonald will spend at least another 12 months behind bars – denied parole for a second time, even though he offered an apology.
In a written decision released to reporters outside Christchurch Prison this morning, the Parole Board deemed Macdonald still too unsafe to be freed.
His lawyer Peter Coles was visibly upset as he tried to tell journalists how to report today's hearing.
"If you are throwing stones at Ewen Macdonald, you just be sure you are not throwing them at his children," he said. "You make sure that the stories you report relate to what he has been charged with, what he has pleaded to and what the board said to him on those charges."
Macdonald, 33, was acquitted of murder his brother-in-law Scott Guy at the end of a five-week trial last year, but did admit going on a crime spree built on revenge.
It included vandalising the new home of Mr Guy and his wife Kylee, then targeting others who had crossed him by killing 19 calves, stealing two trophy stags, emptying 16,000 litres out of a neighbour's milk vat and burning down a century-old whare. Macdonald was sentenced to five years' imprisonment.
Today's news came as a relief for Mr Guy's parents, Bryan and Joanne, who last night told 3 News they'd rather see Macdonald serve his full sentence.
"We are pleased that he is not being released today," Bryan Guy told media this afternoon.
"The trust that we had and the respect is long gone.
"We won't be seeking him out to be mending it. He will have to live his own life and we will live ours."
Today's Parole Board hearing lasted one hour, where it is reported Macdonald apologised to Mr Guy's widow and believed he would still be with his former wife, Mr Guy's sister Anna, if he had escaped conviction for the crimes.
He did admit that in the past, if someone crossed him he would hold a grudge and seek revenge.
Macdonald has two years and four months left of his sentence, but has his next chance of early release at a hearing in a year's time.
3 News
source: newshub archive
