Lance Colin Robert Moore, 39, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of 28-year-old Sean Buis after an incident in Unity Park in July 2022 and his four-year-one-month prison sentence is set to expire in November.
Early release was declined last month and the Parole Board detailed recent indiscretions by the inmate which had resulted in him being reclassified as a high-security inmate.
Mr Buis’ family said it showed Moore’s purported remorse was a sham and that he was now showing his "true colours".
The defendant was at Christchurch Men’s Prison when he was found in possession of a cell phone.
Panel convener Martha Coleman accepted "there may have been some misunderstanding that led to that misconduct" but there was no excuse for what followed.
After Moore was transferred to the Otago Corrections Facility, he had a whanau member attempt to smuggle in suboxone – a prescription medication used for treating opioid dependence.
The prisoner accepted it was "a very poor decision" but told the Parole Board his safety had been threatened, which came against the background of him previously being assaulted and stabbed while in jail.
Even in discussion with the board, Moore struggled with how he may have better handled the situation.
"It is particularly concerning after he has spent the best part of a year working on managing high-risk situations that he did not find a better solution to that," Ms Coleman said.
In 2022, Moore and his victim had fallen out over a drug debt.
When the defendant heard Mr Buis had been lured to Unity Park, he set off on his red Ford Falcon.
Moore previously told the board he had been on a 10-day drug bender at the time, without sleep or food, "trying to push away the feelings".
He arrived at the edge of the park to find the victim running from a gang member who was in pursuit.
Moore drove directly at Mr Buis who stumbled just before the impact.
He died at the scene.
Mr Buis family told the board they did not think the sentence imposed against Moore was a fair reflection of the seriousness of his crime.
They believed his previous expressions of sorrow were simply him "playing the game" in a bid to obtain early release.
Ultimately, the board heard, their primary wish was that no family ever experienced what they had.
In a safety plan, Moore identified his high-risk situations as: antisocial associates, stress and drugs.
Ms Coleman suggested driving should be added to the list.
"He needs to have a plan also for how he is going to manage when he is not allowed to drive for the two years following his release," she said.
Moore will next see the Parole Board in August.
