Latest news with #Brider
RNZ News
01-05-2025
- RNZ News
Release plan for Joseph James Brider 'a very good one', insists Corrections
Coroner Alexandra Cunninghame presides over an inquest into the murder of Juliana Bonilla-Herrera. Photo: KAI SCHWOERER / POOL A former Corrections' manager has defended how the release of a convicted rapist on parole was handled, before he brutally murdered a woman in her Christchurch home. Juliana Bonilla-Herrera was stabbed to death by Joseph James Brider in January 2022, 10 weeks after he was paroled to an adjoining unit in Grove Street, Addington. An inquest into the Colombian woman's death continued on Thursday in front of Coroner Alexandra Cunninghame. Darius Fagan, who was chief probation officer at Corrections at the time of Brider's release in November 2021, gave evidence in court, as the department's procedures and policies in place at the time were again put under the microscope. Counsel assisting the coroner Rebekah Jordan asked what rights probation officers had to identify people who could be at risk from Brider. Fagan said directly informing neighbours of a potential risk was fraught with difficulty. Juliana Bonilla-Herrera was murdered by convicted rapist Joseph James Brider. Photo: Supplied "[Neighbourhoods] are dynamic environments," he said. "Things change all the time as we know. "When a probation officer becomes aware that an address is no longer suitable or there are some concerns with an address, there are a number of actions they can take at that point and time. "They can direct people... not to associate or interact with a particular person, they can consider changing the address, they can consider enforcement action depending on what the situation is." Brider had told his probation officer that all his neighbours were elderly, but the probation was unable to confirm this during several visits in the middle of the day. An option of leaving a business card with neighbours should any concerns arise was put to Fagan, but he argued this action would not lessen risk or concern. "I think providing a number and a card without any context is not going to help anyone," he said. "That's why we have a policy and some procedures that have quite a high bar to reach around risk, before we would go and do this kind of activity." Fagan said he had reservations about the department being portrayed as an emergency service and that concerns could be flagged with police. Although Brider was initially endorsed to be moved into the more intensive Salisbury Street Foundation rehabilitation centre, doubts over capacity saw his parole accommodation being managed through the Pathway Trust charity. Counsel assisting the coroner Rebekah Jordan during an inquest into the murder of Juliana Bonilla-Herrera. Photo: KAI SCHWOERER / POOL Brider's release plan through Pathway remained "a very good one", Fagan said. Listening in via audio-visual link, Bonilla-Herrera's sister, Saray Bonilla, put questions to Corrections, through the in-court interpreters that were present for proceedings. "If Mr Brider were assigned as a neighbour to your sister, your niece, your cousin, would you not consider it necessary to warn them that they might be in danger?" Fagan said the department did not consider what happened to Bonilla-Herrera so soon after he had been paroled as a possibility. "If someone was being released to be a neighbour of anyone in my family or friends, I know from my work, they're much safer with the oversight of Corrections and providers like Pathways than without that oversight. "That support frequently prevents serious situations from occurring, just not all of those situations." Coroner Cunninghame asked how the department legally weighed up reducing risk against protecting Brider's privacy. "Is an attractive female who moves next door to an identifiable group of persons where the protective elements of the Corrections Act should trump the Privacy Act?" Fagan replied that was a possible scenario, but Brider did not fall into the community notification criteria. Alerting the community could also heighten a situation. "Telling people doesn't, in itself, reduce the risk in any way," he said. "In doing that, we exercise a lot of caution, because it can also be quite disruptive to a reintegration process. "There's a likelihood that it can increase the risk." Chief probation officer for Corrections Toni Stewart, who began her evidence on Thursday afternoon, also expressed similar sentiments over alerting neighbouring residents. Stewart also said Corrections was hampered by a lack of rehabilitative community providers for paroled prisoners. "If somewhere like Salisbury Street or another provider had more capacity, it would be used," she said. "Another complicating factor often is that the number of people needing the service exceeding the bed availability means there is the constant need to prioritise. "People who might have been suited to a service are effectively trumped by someone who needs it just that little bit more." The inquest will enter a fifth day on Friday. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Otago Daily Times
01-05-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Young woman's killer said neighbours were 'all elderly'
A probation officer for a convicted rapist who murdered Juliana Bonilla-Herrera in her Christchurch home has told the woman's grieving sister they had no authority to check who was living next door to him. It came during an emotional exchange on the third day of the Christchurch inquest into the Colombian woman's death, in front of Coroner Alexandra Cunninghame. Bonilla-Herrera was stabbed to death by Joseph James Brider in January 2022, just 10 weeks after he was released from prison to a unit next door in Addington. On Wednesday, the court heard further evidence from Brider's probation officer who had been working closely with him at the time he murdered his next door neighbour. The witness, whose identity is suppressed, relayed further details of their dealings with Brider after beginning their evidence on Tuesday. They had been assigned Brider's case after the prisoner was paroled to a unit on Grove St in November 2021. During a house visit, the probation officer asked Brider what his neighbours were like. Brider said his neighbours were "all elderly people". The officer became teary-eyed as they told the inquest they had not been given any information to doubt what Brider had reported. In their internal case file, the officer had noted that any "attractive female would be seen as a potential risk". Despite being deemed a high-risk offender, Brider was not subject to the Department of Corrections' community notification policy in place at the time, meaning community members were alerted only if neighbouring residents had offended against children. The department would later broaden its criteria, to include perpetrators of violence and sexual violence against adults. The probation officer told counsel assisting the coroner, Rebekah Jordan, that they had to rely mostly on Brider's self-reporting. "Had I received information, I would've acted on it," they said. "It would've been escalated to police." The officer said they were unaware at the time of Bonilla-Herrera raising concerns to friends about Brider. The court heard the officer was also bound by the department's privacy guidelines. "What would be stopping neighbours such as Juliana, who are exposed to risk and living in a unit covered by (Brider)'s GPS from being given, for example a card for a number to call, if they have any concerns," Jordan asked. "As a probation officer I don't think I can answer that question," they replied. "It's a policy decision, and I would've loved to have been able to have done that in my job. I hope people further up can answer that question." Bonilla-Herera's family were listening to proceedings via audio-visual link, including sister Saray Bonilla in California. Through interpreters, the sister asked the officer why they did not verify Brider's description of his neighbours, given his psychological profile. Again tearing up, the officer replied: "Under our Corrections policy, I had no authority to door knock on your sister's door to ascertain this information." The officer added it was not that they trusted his word, but that they were limited in verifying his information due to Corrections' policy. Earlier, the witness became visibly upset when asked if they agreed that Brider had "masked his intentions" from the people that were helping to reintegrate him. "Yes that is correct," they sobbed. Further details were heard about a relationship Brider said he had begun with a woman after he was released. The officer said the development was surprising and concerning, given his safety plans were to not engage with females for two years. Both probation and a psychologist "robustly discussed" plans to refer Brider for assessment, as one of his special parole conditions was to complete treatment if he entered into a relationship. He was never assessed due to attempts to clarify the nature of the relationship and lengthy wait-lists for appointments. Darius Fagan, a former Corrections chief probation officer who completed a review of Brider's management in 2022, began his evidence later on Wednesday afternoon. His testimony resumes on Thursday.
Otago Daily Times
30-04-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Murderer lied about living next door to victim
A probation officer for a convicted rapist who murdered Juliana Bonilla-Herrera in her Christchurch home has told the woman's grieving sister they had no authority to check who was living next door to him. It came during an emotional exchange on the third day of the Christchurch inquest into the Colombian woman's death, in front of Coroner Alexandra Cunninghame. Bonilla-Herrera was stabbed to death by Joseph James Brider in January 2022, just 10 weeks after he was released from prison to a unit next door in Addington. On Wednesday, the court heard further evidence from Brider's probation officer who had been working closely with him at the time he murdered his next door neighbour. The witness, whose identity is suppressed, relayed further details of their dealings with Brider after beginning their evidence on Tuesday. They had been assigned Brider's case after the prisoner was paroled to a unit on Grove Street in November 2021. During a house visit, the probation officer asked Brider what his neighbours were like. He said that his neighbours were "all elderly people". The officer became teary-eyed as they told the inquest they had not been given any information to doubt what Brider had reported. In their internal case file, the officer had noted that any "attractive female would be seen as a potential risk". Despite being deemed a high risk offender, Brider was not subject to the Department of Corrections' community notification policy in place at the time, meaning only community members were alerted if neighbouring residents had offended against children. The department would later broaden its criteria, to include perpetrators of violence and sexual violence against adults. The probation officer told counsel assisting the coroner, Rebekah Jordan, that they had to rely mostly on Brider's self-reporting. "Had I received information, I would've acted on it," they said. "It would've been escalated to police." The officer said they were unaware at the time of Bonilla-Herrera raising concerns to friends about Brider. The court heard the officer was also bound by the department's privacy guidelines. "What would be stopping neighbours such as Juliana, who are exposed to risk and living in a unit covered by (Brider)'s GPS from being given, for example a card for a number to call, if they have any concerns," Jordan asked. "As a probation officer I don't think I can answer that question," they replied. "It's a policy decision, and I would've loved to have been able to have done that in my job. I hope people further up can answer that question." Bonilla-Herera's family were listening to proceedings via audio-visual link, including sister Saray Bonilla in California. Through interpreters, the sister asked the officer why they did not verify Brider's description of his neighbours, given his psychological profile. Again tearing up, the officer replied: "Under our Corrections policy, I had no authority to door knock on your sister's door to ascertain this information." The officer added it was not that they trusted his word, but that they were limited in verifying his information due to Corrections' policy. Earlier, the witness became visibly upset when asked if they agreed that Brider had "masked his intentions" from the people that were helping to reintegrate him. "Yes that is correct," they sobbed. Further details were heard about a relationship Brider said he had begun with a woman after he was released. The officer said the development was surprising and concerning, given his safety plans were to not engage with females for two years. Both probation and a psychologist "robustly discussed" plans to refer Brider for assessment, as one of his special parole conditions was to complete treatment if he entered into a relationship. He was never assessed due to attempts to clarify the nature of the relationship and lengthy wait-lists for appointments. Darius Fagan, a former Corrections chief probation officer who completed a review of Brider's management in 2022, began his evidence later on Wednesday afternoon. His testimony resumes on Thursday.
RNZ News
30-04-2025
- RNZ News
Joseph Brider lied about living next door to Juliana Bonilla-Herrera before killing her
Juliana Bonilla-Herrera was murdered in her Addington flat in January 2022. Photo: Supplied A probation officer for a convicted rapist who murdered Juliana Bonilla-Herrera in her home has told the woman's grieving sister they had no authority to check who was living next door to him. It came during an emotional exchange on the third day of the Christchurch inquest into the Colombian woman's death, in front of Coroner Alexandra Cunninghame. Bonilla-Herrera was stabbed to death by Joseph James Brider in January 2022, just 10 weeks after he was released from prison to a unit next door in Addington. On Wednesday, the court heard further evidence from Brider's probation officer who had been working closely with him at the time he murdered his next door neighbour. The witness, whose identity is suppressed, relayed further details of their dealings with Brider after beginning their evidence on Tuesday. They had been assigned Brider's case after the prisoner was paroled to a unit on Grove Street in November, 2021. During a house visit, the probation officer asked Brider what his neighbours were like. He said that his neighbours were "all elderly people". The officer became teary-eyed as they told the inquest they had not been given any information to doubt what Brider had reported. In their internal case file, the officer had noted that any "attractive female would be seen as a potential risk". The inquest is in front of Coroner Alexandra Cunninghame. Photo: KAI SCHWOERER / POOL Despite being deemed a high risk offender, Brider was not subject to the Department of Corrections' community notification policy in place at the time, meaning only community members were alerted if neighbouring residents had offended against children. The department would later broaden its criteria, to include perpetrators of violence and sexual violence against adults. The probation officer told counsel assisting the coroner, Rebekah Jordan, that they had to rely mostly on Brider's self-reporting. "Had I received information, I would've acted on it," they said. "It would've been escalated to police." The officer said they were unaware at the time of Bonilla-Herrera raising concerns to friends about Brider. The court heard the officer was also bound by the department's privacy guidelines. "What would be stopping neighbours such as Juliana, who are exposed to risk and living in a unit covered by (Brider)'s GPS from being given, for example a card for a number to call, if they have any concerns," Jordan asked. "As a probation officer I don't think I can answer that question," they replied. "It's a policy decision, and I would've loved to have been able to have done that in my job. I hope people further up can answer that question." Bonilla-Herera's family were listening to proceedings via audio-visual link, including sister Saray Bonilla in California. Through interpreters, the sister asked the officer why they did not verify Brider's description of his neighbours, given his psychological profile. Again tearing up, the officer replied: "Under our Corrections policy, I had no authority to door knock on your sister's door to ascertain this information." The officer added it was not that they trusted his word, but that they were limited in verifying his information due to Corrections' policy. Earlier, the witness became visibly upset when asked if they agreed that Brider had "masked his intentions" from the people that were helping to reintegrate him. "Yes that is correct," they sobbed. Further details were heard about a relationship Brider said he had begun with a woman after he was released. The officer said the development was surprising and concerning, given his safety plans were to not engage with females for two years. Both probation and a psychologist "robustly discussed" plans to refer Brider for assessment, as one of his special parole conditions was to complete treatment if he entered into a relationship. He was never assessed due to attempts to clarify the nature of the relationship and lengthy wait-lists for appointments. Darius Fagan, a former Corrections chief probation officer who completed a review of Brider's management in 2022, began his evidence later on Wednesday afternoon. His testimony resumes on Thursday.
Otago Daily Times
29-04-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Bonilla-Herrera inquest: High-risk offenders regularly released into community
By Adam Burns of RNZ High-risk offenders - similar to the threat posed by the man who murdered Juliana Bonilla-Herrera - are regularly being paroled from prison and into the community, a senior Corrections staff member says. The comments came as the coronial inquest into the Colombian woman's death continued in Christchurch on Tuesday. Bonilla-Herrera was stabbed to death by Joseph James Brider in January 2022, just 10 weeks after he was released from prison to a unit next door in Addington. Coroner Alexandra Cunninghame heard further evidence from Corrections' staff, all of whose identities remain suppressed, during the second day of proceedings. This included Brider's probation officer, who broke down during the early stages of their testimony. Earlier, a senior Corrections case manager gave evidence in court. The experienced staffer acted as an intermediary between the department and community reintegration services when Brider's release was being planned for in 2021. Counsel assisting the coroner Rebekah Jordan asked the witness about efforts to secure Brider a bed at the Salisbury Street Foundation (SSF) rehabilitation centre in 2021, including approving the arrangement before a June hearing with the New Zealand Parole Board. Due to uncertainty that the SSF centre would have a bed for Brider, alternative accommodation arrangements were sought. A referral to the centre would ultimately be cancelled by the department. The Corrections staff member said there was a shortage of suitable accommodation options, exacerbated by the "unavoidable" closure of a community provider at that time. "Whether that was a factor, I believe it played a part in terms of them being unable to confirm bed availability, because there was still people coming in and going and they were trying to juggle where they were at," they said. During follow-up questions, Corrections lawyer Pip Currie asked generally about the release of parolees. "In terms of Mr Brider and his risk, he was seen as a high-risk offender, are other high-risk offenders also being released into the community?" "Yes," they replied. "People with higher needs than Mr Brider, in terms of what was seen as the risk?" Currie followed. "I would have to say yes." The witness added there was not enough intensive support services like the SSF centre in the community. Earlier in the day, Brider's case manager faced further questions after beginning their evidence on Monday. When Jordan asked if they would have done anything differently in hindsight, they said it was a "difficult question to answer". "I don't think anyone knew that this would've happened. The circumstances of his offending wasn't within the risk profile we were working with." Cunninghame allowed the family, who were again dialled in via audio-visual link from overseas, to ask questions of witnesses. Through interpreters, Bonilla-Herrera's sister Saray Bonilla asked both witnesses whether - "from a human perspective" - they considered it necessary to warn neighbours of the possible danger. Both times Cunninghame intervened, explaining this was beyond scope of the witnesses' role in proceedings. Later Brider's probation officer was called to give evidence. Visibly upset, the witness expressed their condolences to the Bonilla-Herrera family as they began their pre-written statement, The court heard how the probation officer was alerted via email the day after Bonilla-Herrera was murdered that Brider's curfew arrangements had not been correctly logged. "I did not know it hadn't been loaded into the system." Despite this, the officer continued to carry out daily checks as if it had been correctly entered. They also explained growing concerns about their client following his release, particularly due to the fact Brider was no longer to be housed at the SSF centre. "I already knew he we was high risk because Salisbury Street is where our high risk offenders go to. So the fact that was indicated, that he was supposed to go to Salisbury Street, made me hyper-aware. As a result, they explained they would need to take on "a lot more oversight" for Brider. The witness will resume their evidence on Wednesday.
