Wickliffe to work on more ‘insight’
One of New Zealand’s most high-profile criminals will stay in prison until he gains more insight into his “prooffending attitudes”.
Dean Wickliffe was released on parole last year but recalled to prison after he was twice caught drink driving.
Wickliffe, now 70, has spent more than half his life behind bars for a plethora of offences.
His most notorious crime was the manslaughter of Wellington jeweller Paul Miet during an armed robbery in 1972. Wickliffe was jailed for life for the killing, but was released and recalled to prison five times between 1987 and 2011.
He was recalled again last year after he pleaded guilty to two charges of driving with excess breath alcohol.
He appeared before the Parole Board again on August 6.
Board panel convenor Tania Williams Blyth said each of Wickliffe’s prison recalls had been preceded by further offending, including aggravated robbery, escaping, kidnapping, driving with excess breath alcohol, possessing and selling cannabis, and manufacturing and possessing methamphetamine for supply.
Last August the board sought a psychological assessment of the elderly inmate.
“The report was to assess Mr
Wickliffe’s risk, consider the treatment necessary,” said Williams Blyth in a decision released to the Herald today.
“He was then to complete the treatment. Given Mr Wickliffe’s failures on parole, the board also requested consideration of a supported residential placement.”
A psychological report from February revealed Wickliffe had engaged in 70 individual treatment sessions between February 2009 and January 2017.
Whilst he had done much psychological treatment, “there appears to remain rigidity in his thinking, limiting his ability to consider potential variations in relation to high risk situations,” the report stated. “He takes full responsibility for all his offences and is able to describe precipitating factors but is unable to generalise these to other possible future situations.
“Mr Wickliffe demonstrates limited insight into his prooffending attitudes and potential future high-risk situations rendering any safety plan ineffective.”
The psychologist recommended Wickliffe participate in individual treatment to strengthen his safety plan and “continue to identify and challenge pro-offending cognitions and increase insight into potential high-risk situations”.
A further psychological assessment for the board addressing his current risk and outstanding treatment needs had not been received.
Nor was an assessment of his release proposal.
“With respect, given Mr Wickliffe’s long history of offending, the serious offending for which he received a life sentence, the intense offence focus treatment he has received, the fact that he has been recalled on six occasions together with February 2019 report completed for prison services, the board finds it difficult to carry out our legal obligation to assess [his] risk,” said Williams Blyth. “These issues were discussed with Mr Wickliffe. He believes that he has done all he can do. He highlighted the wide support from his community. For the first time he has great support.”
That support includes some of his family, who have not been part of his life in the past.
“[At a meeting in Maketu] he and the probation officer have come to an agreement that he will join a kaumatua group who meet twice a week and attend cultural events.”
Williams Blyth said Wickliffe’s immediate aim on release was to settle down into his life.