TV half-truths seen as 'distasteful'

TROUBLED: Shae Brider during auditions for The X Factor NZ.

Convicted killer and The X Factor NZ contestant Shae Brider was banished from Wanganui by the Parole Board, and did not move to Masterton "out of respect" for his victim's family as he claimed to the Wairarapa Times-Age this week.

And a man Brider assaulted the same night he killed the 16-year-old has a message for the wannabe singer: "Don't ever bring up that tragic night's events again."

When Brider was released from prison after serving six years for the manslaughter of Jeremy Frew, 16, a number of conditions were imposed by the Parole Board, including not entering the Wanganui District.

MediaWorks announced that a public apology to Mr Frew's family would screen on forthcoming episodes of the show but refused to address a number of other question marks over information in Brider's story highlighted by the Herald.

Brider was sentenced to eight years' jail for his part in the manslaughter of Mr Frew in Wanganui in 2004.

On Tuesday, Brider's successful X Factor audition was broadcast with a segment describing the crime as "a commotion".

Brider admitted he served six years in prison and moved to Masterton after his release "out of respect" to his victim's family.

However, it was not Brider's decision to relocate. In January 2010, Brider was refused parole because he was considered to be an undue risk to the safety of the community. A year later, the board agreed to release him, saying there was more virtue in his "getting back into the community as a law-abiding citizen" than keeping him behind bars. A condition of his parole was that he not enter the Wanganui District at any time.

The Herald has also learned that Brider twice spent time in prison in the two years before Jeremy Frew was killed.

Daniel Gray was assaulted by Brider and three others shortly before Jeremy Frew was stabbed to death. He felt Brider had "paid his dues" but was unimpressed by his TV spiel.

"What was broadcast was not forthcoming of the actual events leading to Brider's convictions and incarceration. The details aired were an extremely dimmed-down version of events and was distasteful, to say the least, for several of the victims and their families."

He did not want Brider to fail in life but asked that he be honest in future and respect his victims.

Jeremy Frew's mother, Donna Travers, said the issue was that incorrect and misleading information was broadcast about the case.

"I don't care what happens to Shae Brider, I don't care if he goes on X Factor or if he's turned his life around, everyone deserves a second chance. I care that my son's murder was raised again on national TV.

"My family has been destroyed over this, emotionally destroyed."

Her daughter, Jodie, was watching The X Factor when Brider appeared on screen. She said his story was full of "half truths" and minimised his involvement in her younger brother's death. "If you're going to own up to something like that, own all of it."

X Factor's apology

A public apology to the family of a teen killed by The X Factor contestant Shae Brider will screen on the show's next two episodes. Jeremy's mother, Donna Travers, said the show's producers should have ensured the full facts of the crime - including his seriously assaulting three other people on the same night - were fully disclosed to audiences. She said representatives from the show had contacted her to confirm the apology.