Man involved in a brutal home invasion denied parole

Mano James Tamati was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his part in the home invasion. File photo / NZ Herald

A man involved in a brutal home invasion in Rotorua has been denied parole after failing to attend a rehabilitative programme, reportedly because he does not like group settings.

Mano James Tamati had also been involved in five instances of misconduct between last December and May this year.

In October 2004, Peter Bentley and his wife Maggie were the victims of a vicious home invasion, during which Mr Bentley was robbed at gunpoint and beaten nearly to death at the couple's Rotorua home.

Tamati was jailed for 10 years for his part in the crime after pleading guilty to charges of aggravated robbery, wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and burglary. He had previously applied three times for parole after being eligible to do so from March 2011.

Tamati appeared before the New Zealand Parole Board earlier this month for another parole hearing.

In its decision the Parole Board said when Tamati was seen by the Parole Board last August it referred to a psychological report which indicated Tamati needed to undertake a specified rehabilitative programme.

However, Tamati said then he did not wish to attend the programme as he did not like group situations and did not feel the programme would benefit him.

When Tamati appeared before the board earlier this month, the situation had not changed.

Of further concern to the board was that Tamati had been involved in five instances of misconduct between last December and May this year. The board did not say what the misconduct involved.

An address for Tamati to be released to on parole had also not been established.

"Until he is able to complete an appropriate programme to address what are his clear rehabilitative needs then he will not be offered parole."

The board noted Tamati had a "horrendous" list of serious violent convictions for offences committed in New Zealand and Australia and the level of risk he posed was not clear and that needed to be addressed.

If Tamati did not attend rehabilitative programme, Psychological Services should look at whether it would be appropriate to offer him one-on-one counselling with a psychologist, the Parole Board said.

It noted Tamati was concerned about whether there would be any reintegrative services offered to him.

The Parole Board said it was also concerned Tamati was nearing the end of his sentence which is November 2014.

Mr Bentley told the Rotorua Daily Post Tamati would serve his full sentence due to his inability to reform himself.

"When he comes out I feel sorry for the next person who crosses his path because he will re-offend."

Meanwhile, Tamati's co-offender Hopihana (Hobson) Epiha, who was sentenced to nine years' jail after pleading guilty at the start of 2005 to charges of aggravated robbery and wounding with intent to injure Mr Bentley is due back before the parole board later this month.

He is due for release on November 7 this year.