Joseph Brider murder case: Corrections gave incorrect information on rehab centre, Parole Board says

(file image)
Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

The Parole Board chair says incorrect information from Corrections prevented a convicted rapist, who murdered his neighbour while on parole, from being placed in a rehabilitation centre.

On Wednesday, Joseph Brider was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum non-parole period of 23 years and preventative detention in Christchurch’s High Court, for the murder of Juliana Bonilla-Herrera while he was on parole.

Parole Board chair Sir Ron Young said the board wanted to send Brider to a residential rehabilitation centre but was told by Corrections there was no bed available.

Instead, he was sent to a unit used to house former prisoners next door to Bonilla-Herrera’s flat.

In a new statement on Friday afternoon, Sir Ron said: “I now believe the information provided to the Board by Corrections that there was no room available at the Salisbury Street Foundation for a release on parole was not correct.

“It is clear to me that Corrections’ failure to provide this vital information compromised the Board’s decision-making.

“The board would most definitely have released Mr Brider to the Salisbury Street Foundation if it had known the correct facts.”

– More to come