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Michael Scott Wallace now eligible for parole after the Taranaki murder of German backpacker Birgit Brauer in 2005
Michael Scott Wallace now eligible for parole after the Taranaki murder of German backpacker Birgit Brauer in 2005

RNZ News

time2 days ago

  • General
  • RNZ News

Michael Scott Wallace now eligible for parole after the Taranaki murder of German backpacker Birgit Brauer in 2005

By Tara Shaskey of Michael Scott Wallace is now eligible for parole after being imprisoned for the 2005 murder of German backpacker Birgit Brauer. Photo: Supplied / NZME Warning: This story discusses crimes of murder and sexual assault. It has been almost 20 years since a young German backpacker was murdered in a picnic area of a national park. The death of Birgit Brauer, whose body was found in Lucy's Gully, near Ōakura, southwest of New Plymouth, shocked two nations and led to an 18-day manhunt for her killer, Michael Scott Wallace. Wallace, then a 44-year-old drug-taking transient with an extensive criminal history, went on to deny the murder but was found guilty by a jury. He was sentenced in 2007 to life imprisonment with a non-parole period of 18 years. This month, he became eligible for parole and, despite the time that has passed, the 63-year-old is still refusing to admit to killing Brauer. Wallace made his first appearance before the Parole Board on 14 May at which he sought parole but was denied. The panel determined he had "a long way ahead to go" before he could be released. Birgit Brauer was on a working holiday in New Zealand when she was murdered. Photo: Supplied / NZME Wallace did not have an approved address at which he could reside if paroled, nor did he have a release proposal. The board's decision, released to NZME this week, stated Wallace has not been motivated to complete recommended treatments and was considered to still be in the rehabilitative phase of his sentence. It was also noted that he would undergo a formal assessment of psychopathy. Wallace recently refused to discuss his criminal history with a psychologist, and while the decision stated he had at some point claimed he could not remember the murder, he told the board that was no longer his stance. "He now said that he did not commit the offending," according to the decision, which was the position he took at trial. On 20 September 2005, Brauer and Wallace's paths fatally crossed in the tiny town of Waitōtara. There, she was picked up hitchhiking by Wallace as she travelled between Whanganui and New Plymouth. Michael Scott Wallace was sentenced to life imprisonment with a non-parole period of 18 years for the murder of Birgit Brauer. Photo: Kenny Rodger / NZME He drove her to Lucy's Gully in Te Papa-Kura-o-Taranaki, formerly known as Egmont National Park, and bludgeoned her with a metal bar before unbuttoning her jeans, likely with sexual intent. When Wallace was disturbed by a passing vehicle, he dragged Brauer into the bush and stabbed her in the chest. Her body was later found by a jogger. Wallace disposed of evidence and eventually made his way to the Manawatū area, where, almost three weeks later, he was arrested. He told police at the time that he did not want to hurt people, but he had, and he would be better off if police had shot him. Meanwhile, Brauer's body was returned to Germany. She was described by those who knew her as reserved yet open, honest and friendly. Brauer knew how to enjoy herself; she had a good sense of humour and was sometimes cheeky. Police searching an area of interest while investigating the murder. Photo: Pool / Chris Skelton She was drawn to New Zealand by a love of nature and geography and soon became a keen All Blacks fan. Brauer loved New Zealanders' down-to-earth attitude and believed she was safe hitchhiking. At Wallace's sentencing, Brauer's parents told the court that the events of 2005 would never leave them. "To this day, we cannot believe Birgit is not with us. A criminal like him does not deserve to live," they said in their victim impact statement. A former top Taranaki detective said he wasn't surprised Wallace still denied killing the 28-year-old tourist, who had been on a working holiday in New Zealand when she was murdered. Grant Coward became a household name when he led the high-profile investigation into the murder, during which he made a "we will catch you" promise to the killer. Former detective senior sergeant Grant Coward, who is now retired, pictured during the investigation into the murder of Birgit Brauer. Photo: NZME / Dean Purcell Speaking to NZME this week, Coward, who received the Commissioner of Police's Silver Merit Award in 2008 for his role in the inquiry, recalled the murder as being callous and cold-blooded. Now retired, Coward said the case had been "a real whodunit", and it was a team effort to track Wallace and help bring him to justice. "It took longer than normal, but we got there in the end." He said it was difficult to know if, or when, Wallace should be released. But, he believed that if Wallace was not rehabilitative or admitting fault, he should have an extended period of imprisonment. Coward said he had not maintained contact with Brauer's family, but she would be in his thoughts forever. "I reflect on the cases that I've worked on, and she's right up there as someone who you remember, because of what happened." Brauer was also someone Caryl Blomkvist remembered from time to time. She and her husband, Fritz Blomkvist, hosted Brauer at their Whanganui farm in the final two weeks of her life, as part of the World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms. When Brauer left, the Blomkvists dropped her off at the edge of Whanganui so she could begin her hitchhiking journey, but not without a warning. "We told her she shouldn't hitchhike," Blomkvist recalled when speaking to NZME this week. "Then a cop came and banged on our door at 11pm that night. We were pretty shocked." Blomkvist said Brauer's death was a traumatic time for everyone who knew her. Michael Scott Wallace arriving at court for one of his earliest appearances on the murder charge. Photo: NZME / Mark Mitchell "We still think about her," she said, describing Brauer as pleasant and hardworking. "She was no trouble. She spent her time quietly doing what we expected of her, very well. And she enjoyed reading her books and writing. "She wasn't living a party life at all; she liked the quiet life and enjoyed being on the farm." Blomkvist remained in contact with Brauer's mother, whom she said was a strong woman. Brauer's father has since died. Blomkvist preferred not to comment on Wallace, only to say that what he did to Brauer was undeserved. She said that she and her husband do not support him ever being released on parole. After Wallace's conviction for murder, it was revealed he had an extensive criminal history dating back to dishonesty offending in 1976, as well as arson and violence. In particular, he twice raped a woman in 1983, after attacking her husband and locking him in a closet. He served a five-year sentence of imprisonment for the home invasion and sex attack before later committing armed robbery and being sent back to prison. A memorial for Birgit Brauer stood near where her body was found beaten and stabbed at Lucy's Gully. Photo / Kenny Rodger Photo: NZME / Kenny Rodger According to the recent parole decision, Wallace acknowledged at the hearing that he was guilty of his other crimes. "It would be useful to understand from him why he thinks he committed that offending, even if he continues to deny the index murder offence," the board's decision stated. While Wallace, who has not had any misconducts during his current sentence, was initially reluctant to speak with a psychologist in April for a risk assessment, he did but refused to discuss his offending. The psychologist's report detailed a long history of alcohol and drug use and referred to a formal assessment of psychopathy to be conducted. Wallace, who has reimmersed himself in Te Ao Māori while in prison, has completed sessions with a one-to-one departmental psychologist, and a special treatment unit for high-risk violent offenders has been suggested. But there were impediments to Wallace entering such treatment, including his denial of the murder and his belief that he would not work well in a group setting. In the meantime, he will continue to undergo one-to-one treatment. The board found it was important Wallace also complete a drug treatment programme, despite not being motivated to do so. A stolen vehicle Michael Scott Wallace abandoned in the Ōhau River after the murder. Photo: NZME / Mark Mitchell "Overall, Wallace is still considered to be in the rehabilitative phase of his sentence, and therefore rehabilitation must be a priority." An updated psychological risk assessment was ordered before his next parole hearing, scheduled for next year. "So that the assessment is useful, we encourage Wallace to discuss his offending history with the psychologist." * This story originally appeared in the New Zealand Herald.

'Mooving Day': Farmers ask drivers not to honk and to 'please drive slowly' as they relocate cows
'Mooving Day': Farmers ask drivers not to honk and to 'please drive slowly' as they relocate cows

RNZ News

time4 days ago

  • Health
  • RNZ News

'Mooving Day': Farmers ask drivers not to honk and to 'please drive slowly' as they relocate cows

Photo: Adam Simpson "Don't toot your horns, and please drive slowly". That's the message for motorists as dairy farmers walk or transport their cows to different farms over the next couple of weeks. Moving Day, or Mooving Day as it's sometimes termed, is an annual event in the dairy farming calendar on 1 June. The term 'Gypsy Day' was formerly used - but it has been acknowledged it may be regarded as derogatory. From now until mid June about 5000 dairy farming families, and herds of cows, relocate to new farms - as it's the start of winter and many cows are not being milked. Dairy NZ spokesperson Tony Finch said Moving Day happens throughout most of the country - with more density in the Waikato, Taranaki, Canterbury and Bay of Plenty regions. Finch said thousands of people were literally moving households and farms to new sharemilking jobs and starting the new season at the same time. "It is a really busy time for a lot of people because of the volume of them moving houses, moving possessions, kids, animals, family into a new community. "It does make a big part of the annual dairy calendar and it can be stressful. There is a lot of planning involved." Finch said many cows were transported to their new farm in a stock truck, but for those not moving far they will walk on rural roads. He is urging drivers to be patient if they are delayed behind a herd of cattle, or a stock truck on a rural road. "I suppose the big thing we want to remind people is to be mindful, respectful and patient - that there's going to be a lot of traffic, potentially, and stock moving." People needed to be considerate as it was a stressful time for the animals and farmers, he said. "Impatient drivers tooting their horns is no help - for cattle walking on the roads, and cattle in stock trucks being transported to other areas. Please do not toot. Just wait." Finch said there were many rules about safely moving stock on roads, and farmers needed to have a plan surrounding their cows welfare. To prevent the spread of potentially fatal diseases, such as Mycoplasma bovis farmers have to respect biosecurity regulations. 'It is a critical part of any movement that we ensure cows NAIT (ID tags each cow wears) are up to date. We have had some big scares in the past about biosecurity and that was M Bovis so we want all stock to be tracked correctly. And that we secure boundary fencing so cattle don't get into neighbouring farms. All equipment must be clean that's left in the farms, and what is taken to the new farm." It's not just diseases that have the potential to be spread - it's invasive weeds as well. Bay of Plenty Regional Council biosecurity officer Nicky Oliver-Smith was reminding farmers and contractors that strong biosecurity practices were essential to prevent the spread of pest weeds. "We know farmers put a huge amount of planning into the shift, and good biosecurity and effluent management are key parts of getting it right. "Unclean machinery can easily spread pests. Just one seed or weed fragment on contaminated equipment can lead to a new infestation." Oliver-Smith said Alligator weed and Noogoora buras were two of the most concerning agricultural pest weeds in the region. These fast-growing weeds can reduce crop value and pose a risk to livestock if eaten. Effluent from moving stock trucks, and cows walking along roads can also cause problems on the roads. To prevent large spillages on farmers are advised to only feed their cows dry food, and not green grass, for several hours prior to transporting them to a new farm. One cow can produce about 52 litres of effluent a day.

Young Pulse Defender Ready To Crack On
Young Pulse Defender Ready To Crack On

Scoop

time5 days ago

  • Sport
  • Scoop

Young Pulse Defender Ready To Crack On

From prominent schoolgirl talent, Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse defender Parris Mason has successfully come out the other side to present as a top-notch performer at the elite level in the ANZ Premiership netball league. In the Pulse system for five years, including going back to the National League for a season to hone her skills at goal defence after predominantly being a goalkeeper, the energetic Mason has unequivocally found her feet. Whether hustling, intercepting, deflecting, rebounding or carting the ball up-court, Mason is ever-present as she continues to highlight the emergence of the next generation of talented young defenders. Handed the starter's goal defence bib last season in her first year of getting solid minutes, the 22-year-old hasn't looked back, duly rewarded with a spot in the Silver Ferns, while also notching 50 games for the Pulse this season. "I was so young when I played my first game," she said. "I was 18, fresh out of high school and my body was definitely not developed to be an ANZ level player at that point. There's been huge growth in both physical and mental aspects of my life and the journey's been incredible. "I wouldn't change it for the world and I'm just stoked that I am at a place where I can compete at this level but also at the age of 18 to get that opportunity, I'll always be grateful for that as well." The Taranaki sisterhood has played its part with Mason thriving in the presence of having indomitable captain Kelly Jackson at her side in the defensive circle. "I always knew we were going to be able to get that connection going," Mason said. "There is something special between us, we're so much more connected than just netball….we're very grateful of our homes and appreciate our Taranaki upbringing so much, so I think that creates another bond off the court which just allows us to grow when we're on the court." The pair work seamlessly off each other as part of an effective and smothering Pulse defensive wall. Historically, the team have employed a more Australian one-on-one style of defence which has served them well but often draws on-going comment of their physicality from some observers. On that front, the statistics shed a lot of positive light. Currently, the Pulse sit in the bottom three teams for total number of penalties incurred, have just one player in the top 10 of the most penalised and are the best defensive team in the league. "It's a hard stigma to go through when we're described as a very physical team," Mason said. "I think every team throughout this level is actually very physical…... the game has become very physical. Over the years we have played a different style of netball compared to the other teams and from that respect we can be perceived as more physical because we are a lot more on the body. "We are that `man-on' kind of grind team but it is unfair sometimes being labelled as the physical team when everyone out there is so physically capable to deal with the physicality. "Every team is bringing that physicality at the moment and umpires are letting it go at the moment, so we'll just continue on. If that's how others perceive us, then that's not really going to faze us. "We know our values as a team and we don't instinctively go out to be like that, we go out there to play our game-play and whether-or-not, that is deemed physical by others, that's not really our problem." Bouncing back last week with an impressive win against the Stars, the Pulse have a difficult assignment when taking on the ever-improving Steel in Invercargill on Sunday. "You're always going to play an eighth player on the court when you've got an Invercargill crowd behind them, so it's going to be a really hard time down there," Mason said. "They've been producing some really good performances and building their connections. "We've just got to back ourselves when we go down there. We've got to be very internalised with how we stay connected as a team and make sure nothing is going to affect us once we get down there." With her prospects continuing to soar, Mason's is firmly focused on putting her best foot forward while striving for more. "Backing up your breakout year is always hard, so I just want to be able to produce a good 60 minutes week-in week-out and keep improving in all my basic foundations," she said. "My main goal is to make sure I can retain my spot in the Silver Ferns squad which is going to come off working really hard this season and putting out performances that are being noticed."

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