Double killer allowed out of jail to work

Gresham Marsh. File Photo / Supplied

A double-murderer who killed an elderly couple for a thrill will soon be freed on daily leave despite opposition from the victims' family and his own.

Gresham Kirsten Marsh, 38, will be released in Otago on day release in mid-May, the Department of Corrections said last night.

He is an inmate at the Otago Corrections Facility near Milton, 50km south of Dunedin.

Marsh and his accomplice, Leith Ray, are serving life sentences for the execution-style killings of elderly Waikato couple John and Josie Harrisson. They were shot on their 50th wedding anniversary after they woke up during a late-night home invasion robbery in 1994.

Marsh has been allowed out of prison twice before, but only for a few hours.

The killings sparked debate about the need for tougher sentences for murder.

The Harrissons' daughter, Margaret Jamieson, told the Herald Marsh was a "manipulator" and a "wily old fox" and she feared him being given more freedom.

She isn't alone - even Marsh's own family don't want him released from prison.

His sister Janine Marsh-Harrisson has previously said: "He is young enough to continue to kill again and again."

Marsh's other siblings have campaigned for tougher sentences and to keep him behind bars, and have publicly questioned his claims that he was abused as a child.

A Corrections official phoned Mrs Jamieson last night to warn her of the day release plan after inquiries from the Herald.

The department's general manager of rehabilitation and reintegration services, Alison Thom, said an application for Marsh to be released for work was approvedyesterday.

"Employment is a fundamental step in a prisoner's rehabilitation. Corrections is committed to reducing re-offending and preparing prisoners for release."

She said his releases would be managed under strict conditions and had been carefully considered.

"Any breach of these conditions or concerns about his behaviour will result in him being immediately returned to the prison and his employment terminated."

Dunedin fencing contractor Kim Rapley is understood to have offered Marsh work but he was reluctant to discuss the matter last night.

"I can't talk about that at the moment."

Mrs Jamieson said Marsh was being granted day releases to test if he was suitable for parole.

"We just say don't let him out - he can't be trusted and his family say he can't be trusted.

"I don't know why he just can't be working within the prison."

She would be happier if he was never let out. "We still think life should be life."

The family would be alarmed if he was out for longer than 24 hours.

"I think the public should know the area he's going to ... We're a bit concerned he could pull the wool over someone's eyes and disappear."

When Mr Harrisson confronted the two intruders in his home, Ray shot him in the back and stomach.

He then shot Mrs Harrisson and handed the gun to Marsh who also shot her. When Marsh found Mr Harrisson still alive, he shot him twice in the face.

They later told police they did so because they wanted to kill someone and watch them die.

Leith Ray's latest parole application was declined in February. His next Parole Board hearing is in February next year.