The killer of RNZ journalist Phillp Cottrell has been released although he remains at high risk

The man sentenced to almost 13 years in prison for the killing of RNZ journalist Phillip Cottrell has been released despite still being at high risk and not engaging in rehabilitation.

Nicho Waipuka was sentenced to 12 years and 10 months for manslaughter in 2013 and was released from prison yesterday.

He was denied parole in July and his legal release date was October 11. Corrections confirmed he was released Wednesday.

Cottrell was on his way home about 5:30 a.m. after finishing a night shift at the station when he was attacked on Boulcott Street in December 2011.

The 43-year-old had brittle bones due to a genetic disorder and died in hospital the next day.

Cottrell’s sister, Sue Hollows, remembers his passion for journalism going back to her childhood.

“We used to have our own little newspaper that we used to put together and everything was handwritten, and then [we] had a…photocopier. We would copy all of these editions of our newspaper.

“That’s kind of where it started,” Hollows said.

Cottrell was also passionate about traveling and had visited 73 countries, with a goal of making it to 100.

Hollows kept his memory alive through his passion for travel.

“He had a long list of places he had been and the next countries he needed to go to. We had a keychain as a souvenir [and] Anyone who went traveling took this with them and took a photo to show they were there, and then we just kept ticking off the countries.

“And it was just a really nice way to remember him,” Hollows said.

Good friend and RNZ presenter Lloyd Scott worked with Cottrell before his attack and accompanied him in his final hours in hospital.

He fondly remembered all the evenings they had spent together during their meal breaks.

“We were… talking about things, in those early hours of the morning with the darkness outside in the Radio New Zealand cafe… it was wonderful.” [moments]. We didn’t always agree, but he was a smart man, he was intellectual and he had his own ideas about things,” Scott said.

RNZ chief executive Paul Thompson said in a statement that Cottrell’s death was still being keenly felt by his colleagues at RNZ.

“Phillip was a very good journalist and author and highly valued his professional standards.

“By all accounts of those who worked with him and called him a friend, he was also a humble and kind man. He was an incredibly valued part of RNZ’s whanau and our thoughts are with Phillip’s family and friends,” Thompson said.

Scott is one of the people who continues to mourn Cottrell’s loss to this day.

“I didn’t think it would affect me this way, but it does, even after all this time. I have a book that the funeral home put out with photos and a page with all the signatures of the people who came and so on.” That. And I have three photos of him in different parts of the house, all just sitting there, and I’ve been there talking to him ever since,” Scott said.

The parole board found his Kwaipuka was not motivated to participate in a brief violence prevention program, had not engaged in rehabilitation and remained at high risk.

Since an earlier appearance before the panel in December last year, two charges of misconduct have been made against him, including arguing with another prisoner.

An unauthorized modified whistle was also found in his cell during a routine check.

Hollows said it was concerning that Waipuka was released while there was still a high risk.

She said she didn’t want anyone else to suffer the same loss as her family and friends.