Double murderer back in jail; family to lay complaint

HAMILTON: Convicted double murderer Leith Rex Ray has been recalled to prison after allegedly reoffending on parole in Hamilton.

However, family of the victims are now preparing to lay a complaint with Corrections as they were unaware he had been living in Hamilton, let alone Waikato, a ban on which they thought was part of his release conditions.

Ray (46) and Gresham Kirsten Leith Marsh shot dead John and Josephine Harrisson in their Te Akau home near Ngaruawahia on June 1, 1994.

Mr Harrisson (83) and Mrs Harrisson (74) were woken by the pair. As Mr Harrisson tried to call police, he was shot in the back.

Mr Harrisson was eventually shot four times and his wife was shot in the head twice as she lay in bed.

The killers fled after rummaging through their home and stealing jewellery, money and their car.

Ray was first released in February 2016 but recalled just weeks later, after admitting breaching his conditions after testing positive for methamphetamine use.

He spent another two years behind bars before being released again in February 2018.

His many release conditions included that he not enter the township of Te Akau, or north of the Bombay Hills, South Auckland. It does not mention Waikato.

Ray was in the Hamilton District Court earlier this week, where he pleaded not guilty to a charge of threatening to injure a woman, knowing that his conduct was likely to frighten her.

When duty lawyer Shayne Lawrey handed Ray, sporting short spiky hair and a black Tshirt, the summary of facts relating to the charge, Ray screwed up his nose and shook his head as he read what was alleged to have occurred.

Corrections was also successful in its recall application to get Ray back behind bars.

Community magistrate Ngaire Mascelle entered his plea and remanded him in custody to reappear in March.

The offence is alleged to have occurred in Hamilton on Saturday and carries a maximum penalty of three months’ prison or a $2000 fine.

The Harrissons’ daughter, Margaret Jamieson, was 47 when her parents were murdered.

She and her husband Jock now live in Auckland.

Mr Jamieson said while they had been contacted by Corrections about the latest charge and subsequent recall on Sunday, they were unaware Ray had been working as a truck driver in Waikato either, or living with a relative.

He would be writing a letter to Corrections to ask what was happening, he said. — The New Zealand Herald