Martin DITLHABI 16/04/2025

There is an order prohibiting publication of the name, address and occupation or identifying particulars of the offender and/or victim

Conditions Hearing

Under section 18(2) (SRD) of the Parole Act 2002

Martin DITLHABI

Hearing: 16 April 2025

at Rimutaka Prison

Members of the Board:

Ms A Markham – Panel Convenor

Ms W Taumaunu

Ms A Young

Counsel: Ms S Shone

In Attendance: [withheld] - Case Manager

Support Persons: [withheld]

DECISION OF THE BOARD

  1. Martin Ditlhabi, 27, appears for consideration of Parole on a sentence of three years nine months for the rape of a heavily intoxicated female friend.  He was found guilty following trial.  Mr Ditlhabi has previous convictions for burglary x2 and being unlawfully in a building.
  2. A psychological report on file from June of 2024 assesses him as posing a level 3 average risk of sexual re-offending.  He was last seen by the Board on 16 July 2024.  The Board referred to the earlier psychological report [including].
  3. The report had recommended one on one treatment from a denier’s perspective, as at that time Mr Ditlhabi maintained that the sexual activity was consensual.  However, on this occasion he told the Board that he now had come to accept the offending.
  4. The update today: we have before us an addendum psychological report which is a helpful document.  It says Mr Ditlhabi commenced individual work with a psychologist in November last year.  At the time of writing, he had completed some 16 sessions.  It refers to the shift in his thinking around consent.  We asked him about this, and he said there was no time for reflection previously as he felt under attack and defensive, but he now recognises that the sex was not in fact consensual.  He said that he reflects about the harm that he has caused to his victim.  [withheld].
  5. Mr Ditlhabi is still assessed as level 3 average risk of re-offending.  The recommendations of the psychologist are to complete the individual work, which is likely to take around five to six months and to develop a safety plan.  The writer thinks that he needs alcohol and drug treatment, referring to the DTP in prison but also noting that he has the capacity and motivation to do community-based programmes.  [withheld].
  6. [withheld].
  7. Mr Ditlhabi is minimum security and has maintained good conduct.  He is adamant that he will not transfer prisons to do an Alcohol and Drug Programme.  He said he is not currently in a headspace to do a programme in Rimutaka Prison either, but he would reconsider this after the one-on-one treatment is completed.  He has been accepted by [withheld] and there is a bed date available to him of 30 June.
  8. Mr Ditlhabi emphasised to us that he is nonetheless motivated to do Alcohol and Drug Treatment.  We note that AOD issues were identified as being a key part of his offending pathway.  He said he is willing to consider residential treatment.  This would be for another Board to consider but we would encourage engagement with a reputable provider.
  9. For today there is work to do.  We endorse the recommendations of the psychologist.  We would like to see Mr Ditlhabi complete the course of individual treatment to prepare a safety plan.  Without this we think risk is undue, Parole is declined.  We will see Mr Ditlhabi again in October 2025.  For the purpose of that hearing we ask for a brief addendum psychological report addressing Mr Ditlhabi’s gains and treatment and any additional recommendations arising at that point in time.
  10. We invite Mr Ditlhabi to provide the Board with a copy of his safety plan prior to the next scheduled hearing.

Ms A Markham

Panel Convenor