Arrowtown killer denied parole

Jarrod Allan Mangles, who murdered Arrowtown woman Maureen McKinnel 25 years ago, has been declined parole as he ''poses an undue risk to the safety of the community'', the Parole Board has decided.

Miss McKinnel (38) was strangled to death at her parents' Arrowtown holiday home on Boxing Day 1987, her body thrown over the Arrow River bridge, and discovered four days later.

Her family did not want to comment, other than to say they supported the Parole Board's decision.

Police investigated around 500 people in connection with her murder, including Mangles who was aged 15 at the time of her death.

Mangles was arrested in Nelson on a disorderly charge in January 2003, and agreed to a voluntary blood sample.

That sample proved he was four billion times more likely to be the same person who left material under her fingernails than any other person.

He was sentenced on April 6, 2004, to a minimum non-parole period of 10 years. Last week, the 40-year-old appeared before a three-member New Zealand Parole Board which, in a three-page decision released yesterday, declined his parole.

''Looking at the material overall, there is no question in our mind that Mr Mangles poses an undue risk to the safety of the community,'' the board concluded.

''Parole must be declined.''

It was Mangles first consideration of parole on his life sentence for murder.

He had a low prison security classification at an undisclosed New Zealand prison.

The board noted Mangles had been consistent in claiming to have no memory of the murder, and sentencing notes indicated he was probably under the influence of alcohol and possibly drugs.

The board noted ''the profound suffering caused to members of the deceased's family who are, of course, victims themselves''.

A January psychological assessment report assessed Mangles' risk as high, and he was noted as being ''ambivalent'' about participation in programmes such as the Special Treatment Unit Rehabilitation Programme (Sturp).

That programme provides treatment to serious violent offenders with a high risk of reoffending.

Mangles told the Parole Board he was motivated to attend such programmes.

It was recommended he be placed on the programme as soon as possible.

''Whatever way we look at things, however, there is a long way to go for Mr Mangles not only in terms of rehabilitation but also reintegration which will have to proceed on a very gradual and cautious basis,'' the board noted.

Mangles told the board he did not see parole being a realistic possibility ''within the next several years''.

The board was of the view Mangles should be next seen by an Extended Board for a postponement order, which is given to an offender deemed not suitable for release at the time when they were next due to be considered for parole.

A psychological report and parole assessment of Mangles noted his memory loss after a severe beating by the Road Knights gang in 1999.

Mangles was in a coma for several days following the assault and required reconstructive surgery to his head, other parts of his body, and he lost an eye.

That psychological report raised the question of ''whether Mr Mangles is really unable to remember the detail of the offending or whether he is simply avoiding the issues''.