The board said it was releasing Letele on compassionate release under section 41 of the Parole Act 2002. ``The Parole Board appreciates the pain and hurt the family is facing, and has made the Release decision on compassionate grounds based on all the known information around her medical condition.'' Releases on compassionate grounds are relatively rare. There were six applications to the Parole Board in the past year, all of which were approved, according to the Board's annual report. We do need to take on board the criminal activity that the person's undertaken but I don't think we want to see people dying in prison if, on compassionate grounds, it's reasonable they could be returned home.''

Source: Otago Daily Times November 10, 2016 05:28 UTC