Twelve years later, the Christchurch cricket bat killer says his act was a “disgusting” act – and the victim’s brother says he forgives him

Gleeson hit the pensioner again as he lay on the ground.

He did not provide first aid or seek medical attention for the man he “often referred to as his father”, but instead surfed the Internet for half an hour before using Moore’s 50-inch television, the EFTPOS card, the phone and took the car with him.

Gleeson tried unsuccessfully to withdraw cash from Moore’s account at an ATM before returning to his home in Upper Riccarton and setting up the television in his living room.

When he returned to the crime scene the next morning, he found his stepfather dead.

Gleeson then drove to Howzat Cricket Center in Christchurch, where he dropped his “bloody” cricket bat and tried to withdraw cash again.

He then turned up at his club cricket match and told his team-mates his father was “sick and unhealthy” and “probably not going to survive the weekend”.

A murder investigation was launched, but within hours Gleeson confessed to police that he was responsible for Moore’s death.

He said he had become “so angry at the way (Moore) had treated him over the last year or so” that he “wanted to hurt him and make him suffer the same way he (Gleeson) suffered.” let.” “.

It was later claimed that he was “in a kind of fugue state” and had no memory of the crime.

He later pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to life in prison without parole for 11 years and four months.

His lawyer told the court that his life was “unhinged” in the months leading up to the murder as he “kicked off the habit.” No explanation could be given for the brutal attack.

Gleeson’s first parole hearing was in June 2023 and the board was concerned that he had “not completed sufficient rehabilitation to address his risk.”

He had only completed a short program and the panel did not consider that the inmate’s reasons for the “horrific murder he committed” did not adequately explain the incident.

They said the “extreme callousness that was part of the offending” had not been addressed and that Gleeson had “focused on himself and the impact the offending had on him and his family”.

Parole was denied, and the board determined that a longer rehabilitation period would be required if Gleeson was ever released.

TThe killer appeared before the panel again last month. This time he did not apply for parole, but offered insight into his crime for the first time.

“Mr Gleeson is participating in a moderate intensity rehabilitation program. He still has about three to four weeks to complete this program. “He said that by completing this program he learned more about what led to the crime,” said Kathryn Snook, chairwoman of the parole board.

“He knows that suppressing his feelings is a problem.

“He also said he felt betrayed because he believed the victim would help him when he was in financial difficulty and that didn’t happen.

“He said he was very, very angry when he committed the murder.”

A day before Gleeson’s hearing, board members met with Moore’s family.

Gleeson was told they “remain extremely disturbed by her loss and the manner in which the murder occurred”.

They described the “callous callousness and lack of remorse” that resulted from Gleeson’s actions “before, during and after the offending” and said they remained strongly opposed to his release.

“In response, Mr Gleeson said he understood where the victims were coming from and knew what he did was a despicable act,” Snook said.

Gleeson did not apply for parole because he accepted that he still had further work to do on his rehabilitation and subsequent reintegration.

Snook said he is “motivated” to do this work.

A recent psychological risk assessment found Gleeson to be at a moderate risk of violent and general re-offending – an increase compared to the low risk he reported at his first hearing.

The psychologist was concerned that Gleeson had “demonstrated a willingness to use weapons that could have fatal consequences” and said if he re-offended it would be because “he leads an unstable lifestyle, is unemployed, is financially strained and Has relationship or interpersonal difficulties.” “.

They noted that “future acts of violence could well be planned in advance and carried out in a calculated and instrumental manner.”

“The psychologist says Mr Gleeson’s personality traits and behavior following the offending may have prevented him from developing a sound understanding of the factors contributing to his offending,” Snook said.

Gleeson would have to be reassessed by a psychologist for his “development of insight” before he would see the board again.

“For today, the risk remains unreasonable and parole is rejected. “Mr Gleeson must complete his planned treatment and subsequent reintegration activities,” Snook said.

In order to have time for this, his next appearance has been postponed to January 2026.

MOore’s brother David supported the board’s decision and felt Gleeson had made little progress in prison.

“He’s barely done anything… the evidence says he hasn’t done much in over 12 years,” he said.

“He says he’s remorseful. I’m sorry, but he shows no compassion or remorse.”

David Moore said he was disappointed in Gleeson and often still angry with him – but he had forgiven the violent killer.

“I forgive him for what he did,” he said Herald.

“If I don’t forgive him, psychologically he still has some control over my hostility.

“It’s self-preservation. You can’t just forgive, you can’t be indifferent. It’s not easy… Forgiveness doesn’t exclude every other emotion.

David Moore said most of his family members didn’t feel the same way about Gleeson. They were still angry – angry – about what had happened.

“Everyone has scars – understandably. But at the end of the day, I have the power to control what happens now and I refuse to volunteer for my own victimization.

“I would like to look Christopher in the eyes and tell him that – and more importantly, the reasons why I chose to forgive him.”

David Moore said it was a process to forgive Gleeson.

“It’s not something I decided the next day… it’s a lifelong thing,” he explained.

“You don’t just forgive once, you have to keep doing it.

“It’s a strong feeling… there’s still a certain amount of anger… but by forgiving him, I’m free.

“If I don’t do it, what the hell are we left with? This shit will eat you up for the rest of your life.”

David Moore is a counselor who has worked with offenders over the years. In his view, Gleeson was “a lost child in adult form” who had no idea of ​​his true self.

“Ultimately, Christopher, like so many other people, is a product of our society, a product of his own home environment.

“I look forward to telling Christopher in person why I have chosen to forgive him and hope that in the meantime he will find inner healing from his childhood trauma in his adult life.

“Perhaps the power of forgiveness can aid this process as we all learn how to heal from such tragic circumstances.”

Anna Leask is a Christchurch-based reporter covering national crime and justice. She joined the Herald in 2008 and has worked as a journalist for 18 years, with a particular focus on family and gender-based violence, child abuse, sexual violence, homicide, mental health and juvenile crime. She writes, hosts and produces the award-winning podcast “A Moment In Crime,” published monthly on nzherald.co.nz