Parole granted to man jailed for robbery
A MAN imprisoned for five years for an aggravated robbery using a knife and firearms has been granted parole.
Angelo Dion Tamati went before the parole board on March 8, at the Otago Corrections Facility.
It was his second appearance before the board.
Since beginning his term on July 28, 2016, he has completed a sixmonth drug treatment unit and a mediumintensity rehabilitation programme.
Panel convener Judge Neil MacLean said Tamati’s princi pal Corrections officer (PCO) spoke very favourably of him, describing his behaviour as ‘‘a complete turnaround’’ compared with his first involvement with him as a remand prisoner.
‘‘The PCO spoke of a different attitude towards his bearing, his selfcare, his work ethic, that he was always polite and, indeed, has been somewhat of a mentor to some of the younger prisoners,’’ Judge MacLean said.
Tamati agreed with initial assessments of him as being an ‘‘angry young man’’.
Judge MacLean said some letters in support of Tamati had been sent to the parole board for the second hearing.
‘‘We are conscious that the offending for which he is serving his sentence is serious, but with a focus on, now, the issue of risk to the community if he is released, we are satisfied that the proposed release conditions involving the residential programme, coupled with a number of other strict conditions, should appropriately protect the public interests and be in his best interests.’’
Judge MacLean said parole would be granted in June.
Conditions of parole included completing appropriate programmes, treatment and counselling to the satisfaction of the probation officer and treatment provider; remaining at a specified address between the hours of 9.30pm and 6.45am daily; not having contact or associating with the victim(s) of his offending; not possessing or consuming alcohol or using a controlled drug or psychoactive substance; and not communicating or associating with cooffenders.
The conditions on Tamati’s parole would run until the end of his sentence on July 13, 2020.