One of New Zealand's most high-profile criminals has been granted parole.
Dean Wickliffe is one the country's longest-serving prison inmates, has spent more than half his life behind bars.
The 68-year-old is serving a life sentence for the manslaughter of Wellington jeweller Paul Miet during an armed robbery, a sentence originally imposed in 1972.
Wickliffe has been released and recalled to prison five times between 1987 and 2011.
His last release was on May 9, 2011 but he was recalled later that year after he was charged with and later convicted of manufacturing P and possessing the drug for supply, following an armed police raid at his Maketu property.
Last year he was denied an early release as the Parole Board felt he posed an undue risk to the community.
However in a decision released to The New Zealand Herald this morning, the board revealed they had granted Wickliffe parole after a hearing on May 17.
