Jorgensen appeal

Press, 20 November 1982, Page 2

Jorgensen appeal

The convicted murderer. Ronald Jorgensen, still does not know if his bid for parole will succeed after a IVz-hour hearing by the Prisons Parole Board in Wellington yesterday. The board will report its recommendation direct to the Minister of Justice, Mr McLay, who will seek the Cabinet’s view before deciding if Jorgensen will be set free again. It was a quorum board that heard his case'at the Wellington Prison yesterday made up of the chairman, Mr Justice (TRegan; the Secretary for Justice, Mr S. J. Callahan; and Mr George Marsden and Mrs Vera Morgan- u . Jorgensen, who is serving a life sentence for the Bassett Road machine-gun murder in Remuera, was brought from Paparua Prison in Christchurch to Wellington Prison for the hearing. He was first convicted in 1964 and released bn life parole in 1974. However, in 1976 he was convicted on acharge of possessing cannabis for supply and two charges of selling a narcotic. This resulted in his being recalled to prison to serve the balance of his life sentence. Last May, Jorgensen was again released on life parole, but in June was arrested on a charge of assault and was again sent back to prison by the Minister of Justice, Mr McLay. Jorgensen was acquitted on the assault charge and then a further appeal was made to the Parole Board . for his release.