Killer of second cousin denied parole

A man who killed his second cousin with a kitchen knife has been declined parole because authorities want to see more evidence that he has changed before he goes free.

Hendrix Vai Ariki is serving a jail sentence of five years and one month for the manslaughter of John Tui Anderson, and was declined an early release after his first meeting with the Parole Board in July.

Ariki stabbed Anderson, his second-cousin, in the abdomen once with a kitchen knife in Palmerston North in April 2014.

He was initially charged with murder, but pleaded guilty to manslaughter when the downgraded the charge.

His custody officer told the board Ariki was initially frustrated with being in jail and difficult to deal with, but had since settled down.

A psychologist found Ariki would benefit from completing programmes in prison.

‘‘The board is of the view that Crown Mr Ariki needs to complete the interventions planned for him in prison and to demonstrate that he has absorbed the knowledge and skills learned through an extended period of reintegration,’’ the board said.

Ariki will appear before the board within the next year, by which time the board said it wanted to see ‘‘convincing evidence of a sustained period of change’’.

Ariki and his partner, who is Anderson’s ex-partner, were at home together in April 2014 when Anderson came up the driveway.

Ariki, who had been told Anderson was threatening him, armed himself with the knife and hid behind a door.

He stabbed Anderson as he came around the door, severing the the blood vessels around his bowel. Anderson left the house and collapsed in the driveway. Ariki performed CPR before emergency services arrived, but Anderson died in hospital a day later.

The Parole Board met with people described as ‘‘the victims of Mr Ariki’s offending’’ before the hearing.

They think Ariki should serve his full sentence, and stay away from his child and the town of Turangi.

Ariki told the board he was sorry for what he did and accepted he should stay away from Turangi after his release.

He had also taken part in personal development and parenting courses while in prison.