Photo: SuppliedRNZ has obtained court documents including statements from those who knew him best that lift the lid on Parr's life, his mental health battles and his family's anger with the mental health system. He was admitted to a psychiatric unit under the Mental Health Act in August that year after attempting suicide. Justice Grau said the case occurred "against a backdrop of apparent significant failures in the mental health system". When RNZ first revealed the case she called for a Royal Commission of Inquiry into forensic mental health facilities. "Given that unbelievably this is not the only recent case where someone in forensic mental health 'care' has gone on to kill twice.

Source: Otago Daily Times March 17, 2026 09:13 UTC