Murderer avoids recall to prison
A man who murdered his remedial reading teacher 28 years ago has avoided a recall to prison.
Stacy Hollyman, 42, was 15 when he stabbed Margaret Russell during a lesson in her Havelock North home in 1991.
Hollyman pleaded not guilty, claiming manslaughter on the grounds of provocation and lack of intent.
A High Court jury found him guilty and he was sentenced to life imprisonment.
He later admitted raping Russell but was not charged for that.
He was first paroled in 2005, but was recalled to prison for taking drugs.
He was released again on November 29, 2011, and recalled the following June following violent behaviour and accessing pornography.
He was released on parole in March this year. A progress report before the Parole Board in August was positive, saying he had a fulltime job, was undergoing training and he was engaging in pro-social activities.
He sought removal of a curfew he was under so he could go to another address to watch Rugby World Cup matches. The board agreed to lift the curfew.
He remained subject to a number of conditions, including staying out of Havelock North unless he has written approval from a probation officer.
Hollyman was told he may still be required to undergo drug or alcohol tests.
It was a warning he seemed to have ignored as he appeared in Napier District Court yesterday charged with breaching his release conditions after he failed a drug test for cannabis.
Judge Bridget Mackintosh convicted Hollyman and ordered him to come up for sentence if called on within six months.