New Zealand Parole Board -

Parole Hearing

Under section 21(2) of the Parole Act 2002

Stacy Dean HOLLYMAN

Hearing: 30 August 2017

At [withheld] via AVL from New Zealand Parole Board, Head Office, Wellington

Members of the Board:

• Alan Ritchie (Panel Convenor)
• Assoc. Prof. P Brinded
• Mr B McMurray
• Mr L Tawera

In attendance: [withheld] – Corrections Psychologist

Counsel: [withheld]

Support Persons:

[withheld]
[withheld]
[withheld]

DECISION OF THE BOARD

1. Stacey Dean Hollyman, 41, appeared for the further consideration of parole on his life sentence for the murder of his remedial reading teacher when he was 15.  He has acknowledged that he also raped the victim.
2. There is no earlier recorded conviction and subsequent offending involves a breach of release conditions in 2005 and at 2012.
3. The prison security classification is minimum and the RoC*Rol .23008.
4. Mr Hollyman was first released on 10 January 2005 but recalled on 19 December 2005 following use of cannabis and alcohol and allegations of sexual activity at the [withheld].
5. He was released again on 29 November 2011 and recalled on 14 June 2012 following violent behaviour and accessing pornography at [withheld].
6. On 15 March 2016 the Board noted that he had since been in Self Care and on release to work but there had been some set-backs with erratic behaviour.
7. That last Board suggested that the pathway should be to return to the reintegrative work such as Self-Care, home leaves and release to work but cautioned that he needed to comply with prison rules.  It is said there was a lot of work to be done.
8. We learn from the parole assessment report that Mr Hollyman returned to Self-Care on 30 March 2017.  An application has been made for external shopping trips.  There has been an application for a transfer to Outer Self Care. The result of that is pending.
9. We do have an updating psychological report.  It is dated 11 August 2017.  It assesses risk as moderate for violent re-offending. The psychologist noted the intensive specialised group-based intervention and individual intervention as well.  There was concern, however, about a failure to demonstrate an ability to sustain treatment gains despite positive reports from treating psychologists over his level of engagement and learning.
10. The current report says that no further treatment for violent or general offending risk is presently recommended.  However, there is the suggestion that there should be work with a departmental psychologist to review and, possibly, update the earlier developed sexual offence chain and sexual offending safety plan.
11. We have received submissions from counsel [withheld] who advised that Mr Hollyman acknowledges that he is not yet ready for a return to parole.  He acknowledges previous failures on parole and was seeking a more measured release.
12. [withheld] does point to much improved behaviour since the last appearance before the Board and that has been confirmed by the PCO.  There have been no issues with Mr Hollyman in the four-five months he has been in his current unit.
13. [withheld] noted that the release proposal continued to be developed.  He referred, in particular, to concern about the possible address which is that of [withheld].  The psychological report referred to an issue involving the [withheld] of the family.  We heard a firmly expressed denial on the part of Mr Hollyman’s [withheld] that there was anything untoward between [withheld] and Mr Hollyman.  Mr Hollyman believes that the information arose from a misinterpretation of something he may have said.  He himself says he has consistently denied any wrongdoing in that regard.
14. [withheld] sought for Mr Hollyman to be seen again for the consideration of parole in nine months’ time in the hope that there would be real progress on the reintegrative pathway.  The Board is prepared to agree to that although it is offering no assurances about the outcome of the next hearing which will be in May 2018 and, in any event, by the end of that month at the latest.
15. In the meantime risk remains undue and parole is declined.
16. The Board will require a further addendum psychological assessment report for the next hearing and, of course, usual reports on reintegration work which we hope can include a move to Outer Self Care and release to work if at all possible.