Gun views keep double murderer behind bars

John Barlow has served 14 years in prison for killing two men.

Double-murderer John Barlow has lost a chance of parole because of his "manipulative" personality and insistence on his right to own guns.

The Parole Board refused to release Barlow after a psychological assessment described the 63-year-old as a controlling figure.

The board said he also had a "completely inappropriate attitude to guns".

But Barlow's wife Angela believes the decision is political and that her husband has unjustly been denied release because of a hardline climate on bail and parole offenders.

The assessment by psychologist Dr Nick Wilson said Barlow had been well-behaved in prison and was at a low risk of re-offending.

But the board said his comments about the importance of firearms were "breathtaking" and "of considerable concern".

The board concluded that Barlow had a sense of entitlement with regard to protecting himself, and could exercise this entitlement in "easily imagined circumstances."

Barlow was serving a life sentence for the execution-style shootings of Wellington father and son Eugene and Gene Thomas in 1994.

He has spent 14 years in Rimutaka prison.

Around the time of his trial Barlow told police that Americans who had firearms for protection hardly ever used them and "hardly anyone was ever shot".

He admitted lending weapons to others "for their protection", and classed that breach of the law as on the same level as speeding.

His bail was revoked because two firearms were found hidden in his house, despite him being required to surrender firearms. The guns were hidden in the insulation in the ceiling and inside a grandfather clock.

He was described as using "florid and extravagant language" in referring to having had two guns for protection against people who might be threatening to him.

Barlow denies killing the Thomases, and is awaiting a decision from the Privy Council in London on an appeal lodged in February.

A parole hearing in November was adjourned to allow for further psychological testing.

The subsequent psychological report said Barlow had "a superficial elitist interpersonal style that is usually characterised by an internal strong focus and entitlement beliefs."

He had denied having a manipulative personality, but the board felt his controlling nature could prevent any dangerous behaviour after his release from being revealed.

"Given his intelligence and quite dominant personality, there would seem to us to be no real chance of anyone within his close vicinity alerting the appropriate authorities if an unsafe situation were to arise following release."

The board acknowledged the "outstanding" support of Angela Barlow, who had visited him in prison once a week for more than 14 years.

But it described her as "uncritical" of her husband, and said it was not convinced she would speak up if difficulties arose after his release.

Angela Barlow had told the board the question of her alerting the police was "irrelevant", but it was concerned Barlow's controlling personality would quieten her.

Angela Barlow told the Herald last night she was "shocked and devastated" by the board's decision.

"The political climate has made it very difficult for him. Right now people are hard on bail, hard on parole. They are letting the wrong people out, and keeping in someone who deserves to be out."

She rejected the board's descriptions of his interest in guns and manipulative personality.

"It is absolutely made up. He had guns but that was just because he collected everything. The comments about his attitude - I have been married to him for 39 years and he is not like that to me. It offends me."

The Parole Board also took into account strong opposition from the victims' families to Barlow's release. Letters from the families said his double killing continued to cause deep distress and damage.

But the board said it supported reintegrative leave for Barlow, as he was in the reintegrative phase of his sentence.

"Release to work and graduated home leaves will be appropriate in a safe planned way at this time."

Barlow was drug-free, kept himself busy in prison and was well-behaved.