Attempted murderer Ian Dallison to be released on parole and live in Marlborough
Ian Dallison.
Photo:
The Press
Disgraced Christchurch eye surgeon Ian Dallison will live in Marlborough following his
release from prison
on parole.
In August 2022, after being declared bankrupt, Dallison stormed the Lyttelton home of his former business landlord Alberto Ceccarelli and tried to shoot the man while he dined with his wife.
Dallison fired a Ruger semi-automatic pistol at Ceccarelli with the bullet narrowly missing his head and lodging in the doorframe over his right shoulder.
Ceccarelli and his wife then rushed Dallison, sparking a violent scuffle, during which Dallison gouged the man's eye.
He was
jailed for almost seven years
in April 2023 after pleading guilty to attempted murder and other charges.
However, the Parole Board said there was evidence of a significant shift in Dallison's thinking.
"He had proactively addressed the issues raised by the Board in its last decision," panel convenor Neville Trendle said.
"He had a strong support network who participated in a reintegration meeting and who are well aware of the warning signs should Mr Dallison
indicate signs of being unable to manage stress.
"Mr Dallison told us of the changes he had made and some of the background to his thinking that led him to go down what he described as a 'rabbit hole' with respect to his victim.
"We have considered a significant amount of information and have reached the point that we are satisfied Mr Dallison's risk can be managed in the community until his sentence ends with the support available to him and on the basis of his compliance with the conditions we intend imposing."
Dallison would be subject to electronic monitoring upon his release from jail and was not to enter Canterbury, without permission from his probation officer.
Those conditions would be in place for the remainder of his sentence.
Dallison would be released early next month and would reappear before the Parole Board for a monitoring hearing later this year.
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