Lara Zijl 
Mark Lundy, convicted of the 2000 murders of his wife Christine and daughter Amber in Palmerston North, will appear before the Parole Board on Thursday for the third time. Despite serving more than 23 years in prison and maintaining his innocence throughout, Lundy faces an uphill battle as he seeks release.
Lundy was found guilty at a trial in 2002, and again at a retrial in 2015 after the Privy Council quashed his initial convictions. The case has been highly controversial, with the scientific evidence used to convict Lundy being a subject of intense debate.
Lundy has been eligible for parole since August 2022, but his refusal to admit guilt has been a major hurdle. The Parole Board has twice denied him release, citing the risk of reoffending and the need for Lundy to acknowledge his role in the murders.
This time, Lundy has presented a “safety plan” – a document prisoners seeking parole use to identify potential risks and how they plan to manage them. However, he emphasizes that his plan is primarily to avoid being recalled to prison, reiterating his belief that he is innocent and never committed the crimes.
“As you’re aware I will go to my death bed still saying that I did not kill my family,” Lundy told the board in a previous hearing. “I cannot lie in that respect, so primarily the plan is to stop me from being recalled.”
The Parole Board’s decision, to be announced Friday, will likely depend on their assessment of Lundy’s risk of reoffending. His refusal to admit guilt will likely play a significant role in their deliberations, as they grapple with the complexities of assessing risk when a convicted person maintains their innocence.
Lundy’s case has drawn considerable public attention, particularly from his supporters, a group known as FACTUAL (For Amber and Christine, Truth Uncovered about Lundy). FACTUAL advocates for Lundy’s innocence and has expressed disappointment with the board’s previous decisions.
The upcoming hearing marks another chapter in this long and difficult saga. The outcome will have significant implications for Lundy, his family, and the community that continues to be impacted by this tragic event.
