Mike Valentine's family relieved at killer's denied parole

In February 2013, Mike Valentine was killed at his rural Levin property when Stoyan Militch stabbed him in the chest.

The grieving family of a young father who was stabbed to death are thankful for one small mercy - one of his killers wasn't released from jail today.

In February 2013, Mike Valentine was killed at his rural Levin property when Stoyan Militch stabbed him in the chest.

Militch, Michael Zimmerman and Brayden Windley all pleaded guilty to manslaughter part way through their jury trial, having previously defended murder charges.

Little over a year ago, they were sentenced - with Windley sentenced to five years' prison.

He was given a minimum two and half years in prison, meaning he was up for parole today.

But Mr Valentine's step-father John Timmer-Arends told NZME News Service an early release was declined, much to his and his wife Lynda's relief.

"Lynda said it's so cruel that as a mother she had to re-live this only 15 months after the trial. It's unbelievable. This guy's killed someone and we're talking [parole] 15 months after the trial," Mr Timmer-Arends said today.

"It's pretty draining but it was a good result. It's the first time in this whole process that something's gone right.

"As far as I'm concerned they pleaded guilty to manslaughter to avoid a much longer sentence."

Mr Timmer-Arends was told Windley would be eligible for early release again, probably in about 11 months' time.

Mr and Mrs Timmer-Arends and other family members had their say before the Parole Board this morning, before it met Windley at prison.

The Timmer-Arends were thankful for Leigh Woodman of the Sensible Sentencing Trust for helping them through.

"It causes a fair amount of stress and anxiety and all the rest of it. You've got to prepare your submissions and everything," Mr Timmer-Arends said.

"Unfortunately the Parole Board can't re-judge the case. They've got the judgment the judge handed down.

"We were quite happy although we feel that parole is something that should happen after he's finished his sentence and not be part of the sentence," he said.

"Nothing went out way in the court process or the whole thing. As we said to the Parole Board, we thought [Windley] should have been convicted of murder not manslaughter, but that was beyond our control."

Mr Timmer-Arends also called for a look at sentencing laws. He pointed to a case up north where a man set a dog on a neighbour, who did not die in the attack, and got longer in jail than Mr Valentine's killers.