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Rape and murder of Anne-Maree Ellens in Christchurch in September 1994
Went on to commit an armed robbery afterwarwards
Also involved in the October 1997 Paparua Prison siege
Anne-Maree Ellens
none known
Born 1974
Prison
Sentenced to a fifteen year non-parole period in October 1995
Parole declined November 2011
Due for next hearing November 2012
Background
Parole Board decision documented here
It appears this offender came up for parole in 2009, having been in custody since September 1994. His eligibility date is some 13 months earlier
From Listener article here
September 1994: The body of factory worker Anne-Maree Ellens, 22, was found battered and semi-nude in the grounds of a Christchurch school. Three men had come across her while she was heavily intoxicated. They raped her and then beat her to death. The men went on to commit an armed robbery afterwards. The leader of the group was Richard Genge, 21.
From NZ Herald story 26th October 1995
One of three men convicted murdering and raping a 22 year old woman was sentenced to life in prison and ordered to serve a minimum of 15 years, Justice Fraser said in the High court at Christchurch yesterday. Richard Lyall Genge, aged 21, unemployed, who accepted responsibility for the death of Christchurch factory worker Anne-Maree Ellens was sentenced to a concurrent term of 12 years for rape.
The other two accused, Samuel George Kirner, 23, unemployed, and Michael Wayne October, 26 self-employed, were both sentenced to life imprisonment for murder, but neither had a minimum non-parole period imposed. Both were sentenced to 12 years imprisonment for rape, the term to be concurrent with the life sentence. For offences of kidnapping, presenting a firearm at a police officer and aggravated robbery and burglary, October was sentenced to seven years in prison, this term to be concurrent with the murder and rape sentences.
Miss Ellens' battered and semi-nude body was found in the grounds of Christchurch East primary school by a passerby on September 17 last year. The crown prosecutor, Chris Lange, urged the court to impose non-parole terms "close to the maximum sentence" in view of the ferocity assault, the fact she had been helpless because of intoxication, the callous manner in which her body had been left in the school grounds and the fact that no remorse had be expressed.
Representing October, Mr Mervyn Glue said: "The jury has made a terrible mistake in finding an innocent man guilty of murder and rape." He said the Crown had failed to disprove October's claim the he had never met the two co-accused. October had pleaded guilty to unrelated charges of kidnapping, presenting a fire arm at a constable and aggravated robbery and burglary. The offences had been carried out only hours after Miss Ellens had been murdered.
Representing Kirner, Mr Tony Garrett, said his client and October had been secondary partners to the murder. He said Kirner wished to publicly appoligise for his actions. Mr David Ruth said his client, Genge had accepted rosposibility for Miss Ellens' death. Imosing the sentences Justice Fraser commented on the brutal ferocity of the attack on Miss Ellens.