Family violence offender Frank James Walker must stay out of Dunedin, wear ankle bracelet
A judge has ordered a repeat family violence offender, Frank James Walker, to wear a GPS tracking ankle bracelet upon his release from prison. The measure is intended to keep him away from his victim in Dunedin following a history of violent criminal behavior.
Why it matters
This case underscores the judicial system's efforts to balance prisoner rehabilitation with the protection of victims in domestic violence cases.
A judge ordered a repeat family violence offender to submit to GPS tracking on his release from prison after hearing "terror" in the voice of his victim.
The location-finding ankle bracelet is intended to help probation officers keep Frank James Walker, 44, out of Dunedin, where his victim lives.
Walker was told to wear it after Judge David Robinson heard a victim impact statement from the woman, who told him she believed that Walker would find her and kill her after being released from jail.
Walker was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment in April this year after pleading guilty to assault of a person in a family relationship, wilful damage, breaching release conditions and two charges of driving while disqualified.
He was released almost immediately because of the time he had already spent in prison on remand.
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