Levin murderer declined parole

A man who murdered the new boyfriend of his ex-partner remains behind bars, still at high risk of reoffending.

Ross Adam Anderson was 18 years old when he was jailed for life in 2005 for murdering Chevy Koltai in Levin.

He stabbed Koltai, his best friend, before rounding on Terri Ann Murray.

He had to chase Murray, his former partner who got together with Koltai after the breakup, down the street to inflict the wounds. He only caught up with her because she fell.

Murray and Anderson had been apart for a week when she went around to see him. She went with Koltai, her new boyfriend.

Koltai extended his hand to greet Anderson, who reacted by plunging a knife into Koltai’s chest and abdomen.

The life term, with a minimum period of imprisonment of 11 years, for the murder was Anderson’s first jail sentence, the board said in its March decision, declining him parole.

‘‘He has effectively grown up in this environment.’’

He was noted to have behaved erratically in prison, but Anderson, now 30, told the board he took stock of his life when he turned 28.

‘‘He realised he had to get his act together. He was wasting his life,’’ the board said.

He has only had one misconduct since then, completed various programmes, and not been an identified drug user while behind bars.

Despite all that good work, a psychologist told the board Anderson was still at high risk of reoffending, recommending he do more one-on-one psychological treatment.

The board said it was pleased he had a greater understanding of what led him to offending.