Convicted murderer Stephen Hudson unhappy he's missing out on rehabilitation

Convicted murderer Stephen Hudson unhappy he's missing out on rehabilitative treatment

Decision on application to overturn conviction expected soon

Hudson did not apply for release from prison when he met with Parole Board.

A convicted killer is frustrated that after more than 20 years behind bars he's been unable to get a spot on a rehabilitative programme.

Stephen Thomas Hudson is also expecting to soon hear from the Criminal Cases Review Commission about his application to overturn his conviction for murdering Nicholas Pike in 2002.

Hudson, aged in his mid-50s, appeared before the Parole Board on Tuesday, but didn't seek a release from his life sentence.

Instead, he was focused on pushing his case to attend a special treatment unit he said he's been unfairly denied, possibly because he had often complained about the Department of Corrections or taken court action against it.

"I've been in jail 24 years - 24 years. That's a long time to be in jail without being offered a rehabilitation programme," he told board members, in a hearing attended by RNZ.

Conviction review decision expected soon

After a jury trial in 2009, Hudson was convicted of killing Pike, a Palmerston North drug associate, seven years earlier and sentenced to life in jail, with a minimum term of 15 years. He was previously sentenced to prison on other serious charges.

Pike's body has never been found, but the prosecution case was that Hudson murdered him in a remote location off the central North Island's Desert Road.

Hudson maintains his innocence and has argued the evidence against him is circumstantial, and that "incentivised witnesses" played a part.

Hudson's lawyer, Kerry Cook, told the board a decision from the review commission was expected soon.

"We've been told that it's imminent for quite a while."

If it ruled in Hudson's favour he wouldn't be released from prison. The case would be referred to back to the Court of Appeal.

"I believe it's a very, very strong case in the matters that we've raised."

'They're inventing excuses'

Hudson ran the board through what he described as errors in reports about him, such as saying he was involved in misconduct incidents when he'd been found not guilty by the prison's internal tribunal and that he'd been in certain prisons when he hadn't.

He expressed frustration he hadn't yet attended the special treatment unit, when he'd seen other prisoners accepted early in their sentences.

"It seems to me like they're inventing excuses for me not to go there," he said of Corrections. Hudson cited human rights violation cases he'd brought against Corrections, such as when it confiscated his copy of Cosmopolitan magazine, as a possible reason.

Parole board hearing convenor Annabel Markham pointed out he'd not turned up to an appointment with a psychologist to discuss the unit.

Hudson said he wasn't told any specific details about the appointment, otherwise he would have turned up.

He said on the morning it was scheduled he was involved in an incident with prison staff, when they'd left his cell door wide open when he was still sleeping. He told the board he liked to sleep to about 9.30 or 10am.

Hudson said he'd laid a complaint.

He said Corrections not letting him enter treatment unit was denying him a chance of release, as he wouldn't be let out of prison without rehabilitative work.

Hudson was asked how he'd cope during treatment programmes if he heard people talking about matters against his moral code. Hudson said he'd have to bite his tongue and behave in a respectful manner to others.

A prison officer, who cannot be identified, said Hudson was highly motivated to work - he mowed his unit's lawn - and for rehabilitation.

"Stephen's Stephen," the officer said. "He does put in the complaints if he has a reason to. Other than that we have no issues with him as far as behaviour goes."

Hudson is in a low-security prison unit.

The Parole Board will see Hudson again in a year.