Act leader Richard Prebble says he is surprised at a decision by magistrates to release Dean Wickliffe without conviction after he was caught driving while disqualified.
Wickliffe, who has spent most of his life in jail, walked from the Tauranga District Court on Thursday without a conviction, although 12 grams of cannabis was found in the car.
Mr Prebble expressed "surprise" at the decision of community magistrates Heather White and Kevin Hurley.
"For one of the magistrates to then congratulate Wickliffe on being brave just creates a Ned Kelly-like image for a man who has a shocking criminal record," he said.
Dean Hugh Tekahu William Wickliffe, 53, beneficiary of Papamoa, admitted driving while disqualified when he appeared in the Tauranga District Court on Thursday. The magistrates accepted there were special circumstances, as he was driving for his ill partner when caught.
"We wish you and your partner all the best in the future," Mr Hurley said, telling Wickliffe he was free.
Wickliffe has spent 30 years in prison for a range of serious crimes. He has twice escaped from Paremoremo maximum security prison.
He was stopped by police while driving in Marton on January 29, though last year he was disqualified for accumulating more than 100 demerit points.
When stopped, he told police he was driving for his partner, Dionne Victoria Chapman, who was unwell.
Chapman, 48, beneficiary of Mt Maunganui, admitted a charge of possessing cannabis when she appeared before the community magistrates.
A cannabis cigarette was found in the car, along with five small plastic seal bags of cannabis head.
A small plastic seal bag of cannabis head was found in Chapman's purse. In total, 12g of cannabis was found.
Counsel Craig Horsley said the cannabis was for purely therapeutic purposes, given Chapman's illness.
The magistrates accepted the cannabis was for her own use and convicted and ordered her to pay $200 toward the cost of the prosecution.
Wickliffe was sentenced in 1972 for the killing of a Wellington jeweller. He was jailed again in 1997 after being found guilty of murdering Bay of Plenty man Richard Bluett. The Court of Appeal later quashed that conviction and Wickliffe was acquitted at a retrial.
Drink-driving and cannabis charges saw his parole revoked and he returned to prison. He was last released from jail in February last year.
- NZPA
Prebble criticises Wickliffe release
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