Wanaka attacker granted parole
A man involved in a ‘‘vicious, unprovoked attack’’ in a Wanaka shop has been released on parole three-and-a-half years before the end of his sentence.
Leon Rowles had been sentenced to seven years and one month in prison for his role in the attack on Kahu Vincent in a Night ‘n Day store in Wanaka in May 2015.
His co-accused, Ahu Stanley Taylor, was found guilty of attempted murder and sentenced to 10 years and eight months’ prison, with a minimum of five years, for his involvement in the attack.
It was a prolonged assault, in which both men repeatedly kicked and stomped on Vincent’s unmoving body and his head. CCTV video showed Taylor kicking Vincent with either one foot or both feet more than 20 times while he lay on the floor defenceless.
Vincent, the father of two young children, was taken to Dunedin Hospital, where he remained in a coma for 12 days and in the intensive care unit for three weeks. His family feared he would die.
Rowles’ appearance last month before the Parole Board was his first. His sentence date end was June 10, 2022.
The board’s decision noted that it had information that Vincent was unlikely to ever make a full recovery from the attack, although Rowles’ involvement in it was his only conviction for violence.
Panel convenor Judge Eddie Paul said that while in prison Rowles incurred no misconducts and remained drug-free, having completed a six-month drug treatment programme, other alcohol and drug treatment programmes and a grief programme. At the time of the hearing he was in self-care and had been on approved shopping trips.
The board questioned Rowles about his substance abuse, which had primarily been alcohol but also involved various other drugs. He told the board that at the time of the attack on Vincent he had mixed benzos (tranquillisers) with alcohol but he planned to abstain from alcohol and drugs in the future.
Rowles had organised work as a plasterer on his release from prison but the town or city where he was going to live was withheld, although the board suggested he be transferred to an Auckland prison prior to his release.
Conditions of his parole include not possessing or consuming alcohol or non-prescription drugs, not contacting his co-offender or victim, obtaining permission for a change of address or employment, and abiding by a 10pm to 6am curfew for the first three months.