Parole Board says decision to release convicted murder Mark Lundy was not easy

4:59 pm on 7 May 2025

Jimmy Ellingham, Checkpoint reporter

Mark Lundy. Photo: RNZ / Sharon Lundy

Parole Board says decision to release Mark Lundy from prison wasn't easy.
Strict conditions will help him ease into freedom.
Lundy was released from jail on Wednesday morning.
He maintains his innocence and has filed with the Criminal Cases Review Commission.

The Parole Board says the decision to release convicted double murderer Mark Lundy from prison was not an easy one.

The 66-year-old left Tongariro Prison about 6am on Wednesday morning, having been granted parole following a hearing last month.

The board has also on Wednesday released a seven-page written decision summarising the hearing and, for the first time, outlined the reasons behind its decision.

"This was not an easy decision given the brutal murders committed by Mr Lundy and his claim that he did not commit those offences," the report said, signed off by panel convenor Kathryn Snook.

"However, on balance, this board is satisfied that Mr Lundy will not pose an undue risk to the community if released on parole on strict conditions designed to address his risk as well as assist in his reintegration and address victim concerns."

The board said Lundy had completed all treatment available to him, given his denial of offending, including a drug treatment programme.

He also worked with two psychologists, who assessed him as a low risk of offending.

Released prisoners must develop a "safety plan", which outlines how they would behave in situations that could cause them to offend.

The board said Lundy's was assessed as reasonable and appropriate.

"We do think that Mr Lundy is likely to comply with his conditions. He has informed support..."

Christine, Mark and Amber Lundy. Photo: Supplied

Lundy has always maintained his innocence, after twice being found guilty of killing his wife Christine and 7-year-old daughter Amber in their Palmerston North home in August 2000.

He was convicted at a trial in 2002 and, after the Privy Council overturned his convictions, again at a 2015 retrial.

He was arrested in early 2001 and, apart from 18 months when he was on bail awaiting his retrial, has been in custody since.

Lundy was sentenced to a 20-year minimum term and was eligible for parole in 2022.

On parole he's subjected to 19 conditions.

Where he's living and who he's living with are suppressed, but he must stay at the property between 10pm and 6am unless there's an emergency.

He is banned from entering Manawatū, meaning he cannot visit his wife and daughter's graves in Palmerston North, and he cannot talk to media.

He also can't enter Rangitīkei, Hastings or Nelson, and he will be electronically monitored.

Lundy cannot possess or use alcohol or drugs, and can be tested for these any time.

He cannot contact registered victims or their families and he has to tell his probation officer of any intimate relationship or paid employment he finds.

He is banned from social media, internet dating sites and accessing pornography, and must make available to probation internet-capable devices or passwords.

Because he is serving a life term, he can be recalled to jail at any time.

Before last month's Parole Board decision to release him, he had appeared before the board twice previously, but was ordered to remain in jail.

Lundy has filed with the Criminal Cases Review Commission four years ago.

A commission spokeswoman said it hadn't yet made a decision about the case.

"We are unable to give any indication regarding when a decision is likely to be made as this depends on the time required to complete our inquiries, which are still ongoing," she said.

"Mr Lundy's application raises several complex matters which require careful consideration and expert opinion."

Lundy's progress will be monitored by the Parole Board in October.

How events unfolded

30 August, 2000: Christine and Amber Lundy's bodies are found in their Palmerston North home by Christine's brother Glenn Weggery.
September 2000: Christine and Amber's funeral is held in Palmerston North.
November 2000: Police say they know who killed the pair and they had "one main suspect".
February 2001: Mark Lundy is arrested for the murders.
March 2001: He is denied bail at a court appearance.
February 2002: His trial begins in the High Court at Palmerston North.
March 2002: Lundy is found guilty of the murders. The jury returns its verdict in less than six hours. A crowd outside the courthouse cheers the news.
April 2002: He's sentenced to life in jail, with a minimum non-parole period of 17 years.
August 2002: The Court of Appeal rejects Lundy's appeal against his convictions, but partially accepts a Crown appeal against the non-parole sentence, raising it to 20 years.
November 2012: Lundy's legal team, then led by high-profile London lawyer David Hislop, KC, files an appeal with the Privy Council in London.
February 2013: The Privy Council agreed to hear the case.
June 2013: The appeal is held in London.
October 2013: The Privy Council quashes Lundy's convictions and orders a retrial. After a hearing in the High Court Lundy is released on bail to a location that is suppressed.
February 2015: Lundy's retrial commences in Wellington.
April 2015: He is again found guilty after 16 hours of jury deliberations. His life sentence with a minimum term of 20 years is reimposed.
October 2017: The Court of Appeal hears Lundy's appeal against his convictions.
October 2018: That appeal is dismissed.
August 2019: The Supreme Court then hears Lundy's case.
December 2019: It too dismisses Lundy's appeal.
2021: Lundy files with the Criminal Cases Review Commission.
August 2022: Lundy is eligible for parole, but is denied a release from prison by the Parole Board.
May 2023: The Parole Board again rejects Lundy's application for release.
April 2025: Lundy is granted parole and told he'll be released from prison in May.