Man who killed flatmate back in jail after arrest
A man who killed his flatmate in Dunedin after a drinking session in 2016 is back behind bars, just six months after being released.
Jason Karl Blackler was arrested in
Timaru in March.
Appearing via an audiovisual link from prison, Blacker admitted charges of refusing an evidential breath test and blood test for the third or subsequent time, possessing a knife without reasonable excuse and breaching release conditions relating to the use of alcohol and drugs, before Judge Dominic Dravitzki in the Timaru District Court on Monday.
The 54-year-old, who had been living in South Otago, was released on parole on special and standard release conditions on September 11, 2023.
Those conditions were to run until six months after his statutory release date of January 26, 2024.
In its release decision from August 11, 2023, the NZ Parole Board said Blackler was subject to a condition he was not to “use, possess or consume alcohol, controlled drugs or psychoactive substances” and he had been made aware he may be required to submit to drug and alcohol testing and monitoring.
Blackler had been serving a sentence of seven years three months jail for manslaughter and assault relating to the death of Alan Fahey, 66, in Dunedin in October 2016.
At his trial, it was said Blackler had become enraged and struck the smaller and older Fahey after a sexual reference about his terminally-ill sister.
High Court Justice Rachel Dunningham said Fahey was “almost unrecognisable” after the assault.
Blackler had an extensive criminal history, including 17 convictions for violence – one involving the killing of a pet dog.
Blackler’s arrest in Timaru occurred after he was stopped by police when driving on White St and admitted to consuming alcohol, the police summary of facts said. “The defendant also exhibited signs of recent ingestion of alcohol.
“The defendant failed his passive breath test and then blew over 400mcg on his breath screening test.
“The defendant refused to continue with breath testing procedures and refused an officer's request to give blood.”
The criminal drink-driving limit for driver’s over 20 years of age is 400 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath.
A black pocket-knife was also found concealed on Blackler's waist when he was searched.
Judge Dravitzki convicted Blackler and remanded him in custody for sentencing on August 1, 2024.
The judge called for a pre-sentence report and an assessment on the likelihood of an electronically-monitored sentence.