Dying killer released from prison
A Southland man who killed his ex-girlfriend in 2013 has returned to Invercargill, where he committed his crime, to die.
David Jackson Mahia, 36, who is serving a life sentence for the brutal murder of mother-of-two Nicola Fleming, was released to an Invercargill address provided by his family on September 17 as he is seriously ill and unlikely to recover.
Mahia was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder and sexual violation has was released from prison on compassionate grounds.
Earlier this year it was reported Mahia was being treated for leukemia.
Invercargill detective sergeant Stu Harvey, who was involved in the case, said police were aware of Mahia’s release and had checked to make sure the victim’s family were also aware of it.
‘‘The process has been followed as it has for any case of this type.’’
He had no further comment to make.
Mahia was found guilty of the murder of Fleming, 38, at an Invercargill hostel in 2013.
Mahia and Fleming had been in a volatile, on-off relationship. She had been severely beaten, suffering a fractured face, pelvis, sternum and ribs. No part of her face was left without a mark.
He was sentenced sentenced by Justice Mander to life in prison with a minimum non-parole period of 12 and a half years for the murder, and a concurrent sentence of eight years for sexual violation, in June 2014.
Mahia hit the headlines again earlier this year after he threatened to punch a Corrections officer while receiving treatment for leukemia at Dunedin Hospital.
The Decision of the Parole Board, which has been released by the New Zealand Parole Board, show Mahia applied to the board for compassionate release in July of this year. His prison security classification was low/medium and he was eligible for parole in 2025.
At that time, the board declined to give a direction for release on compassionate grounds because it questioned whether the release address was appropriate.
It also had some concerns about some earlier intimidating behaviour by Mahia towards the corrections officer.
The board also noted that Mahia was under good management in a purpose-built cell in the medical unit of the prison.
There was a reference to hospice placement at the appropriate time, but Mahia was firm that he did not wish to be released to the hospice facility but to an address provided by his family, the Parole Board report states.
On September 13, the board considered a further referral from the board’s chairperson, Sir Ron Young.
The report says Young referred to updated information in regard to Mahia’s health and made the referral accordingly.
He was released on September 17.
Mahia is subject to several special conditions, with all conditions continuing for life.