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Warwick Smith / Stuff
Jamie Mills shot Jamie Faulkner on these Heretaunga St flats in 2009.
A man who murdered someone for a drug deal gone wrong does not participate in some rehabilitation courses in prison because of his religious upbringing, he told the Board of Parole.
James Andrew Mills, also known as Jamie, is serving a life sentence for murdering Jamie Faulkner in September 2009.
Faulkner was shot by Mills in the Palmerston North apartment shared by Mills and Rachel Marie Parker.
Mills was denied parole after his first appearance before the Board of Parole in late November, a decision that Faulkner’s mother, Dulcie Coleman, supported.
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Supplied
Jamie Faulkner died after being shot by James Andrew Mills in Palmerston North in September 2009.
He said Mills’ release should not be considered until he has shown understanding of what he had done and rehabilitation has begun.
In its report, the board noted that the sentencing judge described the crime as a “senseless act of violence in which Mr. Mills shot an unarmed man who had been deceived.”
Although he has misbehaved behind bars, racking up eight misconduct during his time in Whanganui Prison, he has been good for the past 18 months.
He told the board that he wanted to move on and become a better person.
Mills has refused to complete an assessment for drug and alcohol treatment needs.
He told the board that parts of a dependency treatment program conflicted with his “Christian upbringing.”
“Mr. Mills was raised as a Jehovah’s Witness and believes that the Tikanga aspects of [programme], and prayer, is not in accordance with their beliefs, “the board said.
He had also said that a disability meant that he would not be able to participate in kapa haka as part of the program, making him the “stranger.”
“We believe that Mr. Mills has a lot of work to do and has to overcome the barrier of substance abuse in terms of his perceived inability to work in a Tikanga environment,” the board said.
Coleman was not impressed with Mills’ reason for not participating in the programs.
“I can’t believe he didn’t do anything while he was in prison to rehabilitate himself and help him out.
“Even if he didn’t want to pray, there is no excuse for it. Prayer probably would have helped. Whatever your excuse, it is unacceptable. He has a chance in prison to get help and support, but he’s too busy trying to say he shouldn’t be charged with murder. “
The night she died, Parker threatened Faulkner when he failed to deliver the methamphetamine she paid for.
She lured him to her apartment to provide her with the drugs if he paid more money.
He also arranged for Mills to be there with a pistol, which he kept loaded in the laundry room, to settle the deal.
Faulkner appeared and sat on the couch, after which Mills came in and shot him.
Mills told police what happened, but Parker hid the gun magazine and left two bullets with someone he went drinking with later that day.
He pleaded guilty to manslaughter during his murder trial, while Mills admitted to murder before going to trial.
Despite his guilty plea, Mills attempted to appeal his murder conviction in March, claiming he was guilty of manslaughter because the shooting was fired during a fight.
His appeal was rejected.
Mills will then be considered for parole in May 2022.
