Ewen Macdonald has parole bid denied

Ewen Macdonald has had his first bid for parole denied after a hearing this morning.

Macdonald became eligible for parole this month.

He was sentenced to five years' jail for arson, vandalism and killing deer and calves on neighbouring Feilding farms.

His term was imposed in September, after he was found not guilty of murdering his wife's brother Scott Guy by a High Court jury in July.

When he was sentenced, Macdonald had already served more than a year in prison awaiting trial. So, this month he had officially served a third of his sentence and became eligible to go before the board.

The Parole Board hearing was held at Manawatu Prison this morning.

The board said it declined parole because it was not satisfied that MacDonald no longer posed an undue risk to the safety of the community. The board said MacDonald had "much to do'' and would be required to undertake one-on-one counselling with a psychologist.

The board had also asked that a forensic psychiatric report be prepared for his next appearance which would take place in November or December next year.

The board had informed the registered victim, Scott Guy's widow Kylee, of its decision. She would not be making any comment about the hearing or the decision, the board said.