Man who killed policeman to be freed

Daniel Luff, who was 17 when he shot and killed a policeman in Manawatū, is to be released from prison this month.

Luff has spent 20 years in prison for murdering Detective Constable Duncan Taylor, 39, and wounding Detective Jeanette Park, on 5 July 2002.

During this time, Luff finished his high school studies, gained a bachelor’s degree with honours in psychology, and is completing a PHD.

The Parole Board now considers Luff has completed sufficient treatment and rehabilitation, and does not pose a risk to the community.

The murder occurred at a rural property near Palmerston North where Luff’s ex-girlfriend, Stephanie Cocker, lived.

While attempting to visit Cocker, Luff shot Taylor in the chest at close range, and fired at two other police officers, hitting Park in the thigh as she escaped, during a four-hour siege. Luff was obsessed with Cocker and had been stalking her.

The officers had tried to warn Luff to not breach a protection order the Cocker family had taken out against him.

Taylor was a former New Zealand basketball representative, and left his wife, Melanie, and 11-month-old son, Campbell.

Luff was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum nonparole period of 17 years, by Justice Ron Young.

Ironically, it was the same judge, now Sir Ron Young, who is head of the Parole Board, who chaired Luff’s parole hearing on April 28, and this week released the decision that Luff should be freed.

Luff, now 37, will be released from Auckland Prison to a Nelson address on May 25. He will not be allowed to travel to Hawke’s Bay, Manawatū, or Whanganui, in order to avoid contact with victims of his crimes.

Luff will not be permitted to access or possess firearms; must observe a 9pm to 6am curfew for three months; and will be electronically monitored.

He had previously been declined parole on two occasions.

However, Young said further treatment focusing on Luff’s management of social and intimate partner rejection had been successful, and a psychologist said no further rehabilitation work was required.