He got parole and he killed
Nathan Boulter has pleaded guilty to murdering a Christchurch woman.
I have followed Boulter for a while, because he kidnapped and held hostage his former girlfriend on Great Barrier Island in 2010. She only survived because she tricked him. Great Barrier is a place I have visited many many times with Nikki Kaye (who was their local MP) and the island is a wonderful community. The kidnapping of Nortessa Montgomerie by him, was like the kidnapping of a family member to many Islanders. Everyone knows everyone.
As it happens I recall hearing that it was actually some of the locals on the island who located Boulter before the Police did, and that they gave him what is best to be described euphemistically as a very stern talking to about what they thought of his actions, and how he would get a further “stern talking to” if he ever appeared on Great Barrier again. By coincidence it seems he also injured himself trying to run away down a bank.
Here is his record:
- Sep 2010 – charged with assaulting Montgomerie
- Oct 2010 – charged again with assaulting Montgomerie
- Dec 2010 – released on bail
- Jan 2011 – kidnapped Montgomerie, assaulted her boyfriend
- Jun 2012 – Jailed for eight years, six months
- Sep 2018 – given parole, noted he had 13 past convictions
- 2019 – stalked another women
- Jul 2020 – jailed for two years and five months for threatening to kill
- March 2023 – given parole
- Next two years – in and out of prison
- Jan 2025 – released from prison
- Apr 2025 – jailed for threatening
- June 2025 – charged with threatening behaviour
- Then 16 days after latest prison release, murdered a woman
The Parole Board in 2023 said:
- The Parole Assessment Report said that Mr Boulter has positive behaviour, and he has said that he is determined not to do this again.
- The Board considers that any undue risk Mr Boulter poses can be met by way of special conditions.
They were wrong. He has stalked and threatened so many women, it is absolutely unsurprising that he finally killed one.
His sentences were all manifestly inadequate. You might give someone a one month sentence for their first threatening offence, but when he has been doing it for so long to so many, you should be keeping him locked up as long as possible.
The murdered women’s death was preventable. This is why we need a regime where repeat violent offenders don’t get short sentences and don’t get parole.