logo
Murderer Peter Carrington to stay in prison after over two decades behind bars

Murderer Peter Carrington to stay in prison after over two decades behind bars

RNZ News27-05-2025
First published on
By
Sharon Davis
, Westport News
Peter Douglas Carrington was 32-years-old when he was sentenced to life in prison.
Photo:
123RF
A man given a life sentence for a brutal rape and murder of an elderly Punakaiki woman in 2022 will spend at least another 18 months in jail.
Peter Douglas Carrington was 32-years-old when he was sentenced to life in prison in the Greymouth High Court on 16 June, 2002, for the murder of a 73-year-old Punakaiki resident, Mya Sollis.
Carrington appeared before the Parole Board via audio-visual link for a hearing on Tuesday.
He was not expecting release but wanted progress made toward his eventual release.
Carrington was born with a genetic condition with an extra x chromosome known as Klinefelter's syndrome. He told the board he had been getting testosterone injections every four weeks for 41 years.
Following blood tests a few years ago, he'd increased the testosterone dose, which had improved his mood and made him more talkative and open to learning.
"I'm open to taking about my issues. I'm totally different. I'm not hostile to women anymore, or people in general. I give them respect. I never respected them back then."
Carrington told the parole panel that "he'd missed out on a hell of a lot" being in jail. When he was released he planned to stay away from drugs and alcohol, which had played a part in his earlier offending.
Parole panel member and forensic psychiatrist Dr Jeremy Skipworth said the main concern of Parole Board members was how Carrington would react under stress.
In response to questions from Dr Skipworth, Carrington said the most stressful thing he'd faced in the last decade was being hassled and picked on, and being abused and assaulted.
"Having to look over my shoulder every day I go out," Carrington said.
Pressed for his reaction to that, Carrington said he felt mainly hate.
"I want to do them in, beat them up. Just to get them off my back."
Carrington said he would talk to a support person or family member if he felt at risk.
He said he did not have any misconduct charges while in jail but had come close once.
Asked about that incident, Carrington said he could not remember.
The board said Carrington had made good progress over the years he had been in prison but needed to do more work. This including wider social integration in a controlled environment to test his safety plan and the risk of further offending before he could be released.
Carrington will appear before the Parole Board again in November 2026.
Mya Sollis' body was found in the grass on McMillans Beach, Punakaiki, on January 16, 2002, by a conservation worker moving an abandoned ATV above the high-tide line.
Sollis had been stabbed 11 times, including in both eyelids, as well as her neck and face. Her trousers were partly down.
Carrington admitted dragging her into flax and attacking her. His pocket-knife was discovered in the Punakaiki River some days after the murder.
An autopsy showed Sollis died from blood loss.
The Punakaiki murder was not Carrington's first. In August 1988 he killed an 81-year-old woman in his hometown of Oamaru. He sexually violated her and hit her on the head with a brick. He was sentenced to seven years jail.
Carrington has been eligible for parole since January 2012. He has been denied parole numerous times because the Parole Board believed there was a risk Carrington would reoffend.
- Westport News
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Man suddenly felt sick before fatal cliff fall in Banks Peninsula
Man suddenly felt sick before fatal cliff fall in Banks Peninsula

RNZ News

time2 hours ago

  • RNZ News

Man suddenly felt sick before fatal cliff fall in Banks Peninsula

Emergency services were called to Little Pigeon Bay Rd on Sunday. (File photo) Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon A man who died after falling from a cliff in Banks Peninsula felt suddenly sick before he fell. Emergency services were called to Little Pigeon Bay Rd on Sunday afternoon, and the man's body had to be flown out of the area by helicopter. Senior constable Anita Osborne said the man was part of a group of four who had been snorkelling and collecting seafood in the area. The group had climbed up a bank to go around a rocky outcrop due to the tide, and the man reported feeling unwell suddenly and fell onto the rocks, she said. "One of his companions went straight to the man and commenced CPR, while a second ran to an area where they could get cellphone coverage, in order to call 111. "Tragically, despite the efforts of the man's friends and emergency services staff, the man was unable to be revived," Osborne said. The death would be referred to the Coroner. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

Six-metre sculpture disappears from artist's West Auckland studio
Six-metre sculpture disappears from artist's West Auckland studio

RNZ News

time2 hours ago

  • RNZ News

Six-metre sculpture disappears from artist's West Auckland studio

Chris Moore's stolen sculpture which is part of his 'Introduced Species' series. Photo: CHRIS MOORE An Auckland artist who's huge galvanised steel sculpture was allegedly stolen last week believes it was targeted by thieves who thought it was more valuable than it is. The near six-metre sculpture went missing from an artist's studio in Oratia, West Auckland early on Friday morning. Artist Chris Moore said the sculpture, created as part of his 'Introduced Species' series, would have cost him more than $50,000 in time, materials and labour, but is likely to be worth less than $50 as scrap metal. He told Morning Report he was stunned to learn the sculpture had been taken. He said his neighbour had spotted the thieves early that morning, and tried chase after them as they fled the scene. "It's just bizarre," Moore said. "It's just something I never in a million years thought would have happened." The sculpture, a large plant, was the last piece in a series inspired by the idea of early settlers introducing different species to New Zealand, and the impact this had. "I'd love to get it back," he said. "I made it throughout the year, but I estimate it'd be just around two months to make it." The thieves targeted the statue believing it to be made of valuable bronze, Moore believed. "Even though it's just steel, it was painted and it resembled copper or bronze, the same as rest from the same series," he said. "I think that they must've just thought that it was bronze, because then it's easy for them to melt down, and it can't really be traced, and then they're able to sell it to scrap dealers." Bronze was worth a lot more than steel, Moore said. "I'm kind of hoping they realise before they cut it all to pieces and, maybe, try and dump it." Police said there had been no arrests and the investigation was ongoing. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

Police probe man's death in Rotorua at the weekend
Police probe man's death in Rotorua at the weekend

RNZ News

time3 hours ago

  • RNZ News

Police probe man's death in Rotorua at the weekend

The man was brought into Rotorua Hospital by four others on Saturday night. Photo: Felix Desmarais/LDR Police in Rotorua are investigating the death of a 20-year-old man at the weekend. The man was brought into Rotorua Hospital by four others on Saturday night after being found critically injured on the roadside. He died a short time later. Police want anyone who may have witnessed an incident involving a vehicle on State Highway 33 between Paengaroa and Rotorua between 5pm and 7pm on Saturday to get in contact. "If anyone has information which could assist the police investigation, we ask that they contact us via 105 and quote file number 250726/5566," Detective Inspector Lindsay Pilbrow said. "Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store