Axe killer talks of ‘blind rage’
A man who killed his brother in a vicious axe attack has described the ‘‘blind rage’’ that came over him and, seconds later, the horrifying realisation of what he had done.
In March 2003, Fergus Glen killed his brother Craig in his bed, with an axe, after Craig turned in for the night without thanking Fergus for cooking dinner at their parents’ Wainuiomata home.
Glen pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life with a minimum non-parole period of 10 years. He became eligible to be considered for parole in 2013.
Stuff was granted permission to attend his Parole Board hearing by video link from Upper Hutt’s Rimutaka Prison last week, where Glen described how a ‘‘fuse went’’ before his fury exploded.
Glen had been drinking whisky and stayed up after the others had gone to bed. Dark thoughts came over him, he fetched the axe and swung it eight times at the face and neck of his sleeping brother – a father of three.
‘‘He just annoyed me and I did it,’’ he told police at the time. ‘‘When I realised what I had done I just shat myself . . . I just let it all build up until the fuse went,’’ Glen told the board. ‘‘[It was] just a blind rage, it just happened in the spur of the moment . . . the booze didn’t help.’’
Although a psychological assessment found Glen was at low risk of re-offending, the board pointed out the possibility that – given he had committed murder – if he did commit further acts of violence they ‘‘may be severe’’ and could be triggered by him ruminating over perceived injustices.
The board talked to Glen about his wish to have contact with his brother’s family members if that is what some of them wanted. Glen understood that some of them may want to know more about what led to the murder.
The psychologist noted in her assessment that Glen was likely to require further support if any contact occurred. He agreed any contact would need to be facilitated by a psychologist or other professional. He has been working outside the prison wire for seven years and has been living in selfcare for about three years. The board understood he had been on about 63 shopping trips and other guided releases and had an offer of work upon release.
Glen told the board he had been thinking about becoming a butcher but ‘‘the trouble with my offence is that some people don’t like taking on lifers’’.
He talked about high-risk situations including isolation, getting agitated and letting things fester.
‘‘I don’t ruminate over stuff anymore,’’ he told the board.
Glen said he wanted to travel once released and would be comfortable complying with a special condition on parole that would preclude him from having alcohol for the rest of his life. Although it was not sought, Glen was denied parole as there was an undue risk given there was no suitable release proposal. His next hearing is in May.