Information released today confirmed Corrections accepted an offer of a bed from the Salisbury Street Foundation for killer Joseph James Brider and appear to contradict King Counsel's Report
Email correspondence and spreadsheet information released today confirmed that Corrections had accepted an offer of a bed from the Salisbury Street Foundation for killer Joseph James Brider on his release and appear to contradict conclusions made by KC Victoria Heine independent report into the Parole Board hearing to release Brider, as well as statements made by Corrections Chief Executive Jeremy Lightfoot. They also appear to support the Parole Board chair Ron Young’s contention that Corrections provided incorrect information about the availability of a SSF bed to Brider on his release.
“Hi Team
I appreciate Mr Joseph Brider was discussed yesterday morning and your service had accepted him, and that you would be able to offer him a bed date at his next scheduled Parole hearing in October 2021. Unfortunately, I had omitted to action an earlier email sent to me that indicated our Reintegration Coordinator having discussed an alternative release option with Joseph. As such the offer of accommodation is longer required and I’ve asked for the referral to then be cancelled. I hope this would then allow for another person to be prioritised on the list.”
Brider murdered Addington local Juliana Herrera in January 2022 after the Parole Board released him from Christchurch Men’s Prison 72 days earlier. Brider had been serving time for rape and kidnapping and let out 3 months before his statutory release date. Sir Ron Young, the Parole Board chair, has alleged that at the June 2021 parole hearing Corrections told it that SSF did not have a bed for Brider. Brider was released to a flat in Addington next door to Herrera under limited supervision, when the risk of him reoffending was high. She was unaware of his violent offending. After her death, Young learned from the SSF that it did in fact have bed for Brider on his release.
A case spreadsheet released by Corrections shows that the Salisbury Street Foundation had indeed offered Brider a bed. Brider, on 11 August, in a crucial statement, was “Accepted and will be offered bed date at next [Parole] Hearing. Whanau hui at SSF will be request.”
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