Dean Wickliffe, 77, New Zealand’s longest-serving prisoner, will be released after a parole hearing yesterday.
He has been on a hunger strike since March 10, claiming that guards at Spring Hill Corrections Facility beat him. Wickliffe was imprisoned for violating parole conditions by living in his car after his parole address was sold.
His lawyer, Sam Vincent, confirmed that Wickliffe was granted parole after 16 days on hunger strike. His legal team believes he no longer poses a threat to the community.
Green MP Steve Abel, who attended the hearing, called the decision “justice done” and praised Wickliffe for advocating for better prison conditions.
Wickliffe’s lawyers are asking for the release of video footage of the alleged incident with the guards. He is currently in the hospital recovering from significant weight loss.
