Plans for killer's release spark anger

An Auckland man has ripped into the Parole Board for singling out his neighbourhood as being a suitable area in which to release convicted Martinborough murderer Michael Busch.
Computer expert David Ball of Whangaparaoa has written to the Times-Age to ''enlighten'' the newspaper about plans for Busch's release, which fell over when Busch was denied parole late last year.
Mr Ball said he had confirmed that Busch _ convicted of the shotgun murder of Ian Silby, 14, in Martinborough in 1989 and the attempted murder of Noel Hayes during the same incident _ was to have been paroled to a home in Alverna Heights View, Gulf Harbour, Whangaparaoa.
''This area has two primary schools, a pre-school and a college within a 500m radius with a total of 1000 pupils,'' Mr Ball wrote.
''I can't believe the Parole Board even considered this area as a possibility.''
Busch served 12 years for the Martinborough killing before being set free on parole in June, 2002. He was recalled six months later for breaching his parole conditions.
The conditions included a clause that he not associate with young people.
Returned to prison, he has remained there for a further 7 years, having applied for parole several times but being denied.
At his last parole hearing, evidence was heard regarding a proposal to house Busch should the board agree to release him, with details of the area not being made public.
In the event, Busch was again denied parole but he is due to appear before the board again in November. Mr Ball said he found out about the plan to house Busch in Whangaparaoa through a story in the New Zealand Herald after Busch had sent a letter to a wrong address.
He said he believed the Parole Board had not advised police in the area or the schools of the potential release and his emails and telephone calls to the Department of Corrections had gone unanswered.
''It was only when I contacted MP Lockwood Smith's office that I got some traction, which eventually led to a meeting between the Corrections Department and neighbours, and to Busch being denied parole.''
Ironically, Mr Ball was refused access to the meeting.
''The reason given was I wasn't a direct neighbour.
''I stay about 200m away from the house Busch would have been living in and I have a child who attends primary school.''
Mr Ball said it was ''the last place on the planet'' to which a convicted murderer of a young person should be paroled.
''I just hope if Busch is ever released back into society that due consideration is given to the safety of children and their families in the immediate area. It certainly wasn't when Corrections tried to sneak him into our neighbourhood.''