Dunedin bail breach: Prisoner arrested after missing flight to funeral
A prisoner granted compassionate bail to attend a funeral was arrested after missing his flight and being collected by his partner. The incident triggered a significant police response in Dunedin, though authorities confirmed there was no risk to the public.
Why it matters
It highlights the procedural risks and public safety concerns associated with the compassionate release of remand prisoners.
A prisoner was meant to get on a flight from Dunedin to Wellington yesterday after he was given compassionate bail to attend a tangi. Instead, he is alleged to have missed his flight and been picked up by his partner, sparking a large police response to a Dunedin property. Photo / NZME
A prisoner bailed to attend a tangi instead allegedly missed his flight and was picked up by his partner, sparking a large police callout to a home near a Dunedin high school.
The remand accused prisoner was granted bail on compassionate grounds so he could fly from rel="" title="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/topic/dunedin/">Dunedin to Wellington for a funeral yesterday, Otago Corrections Facility general manager Lyndal Miles said.
When the courts grant a person compassionate bail they aren’t in Corrections’ custody, so officers did not accompany the man, Miles said.
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