sandee292000
03-27-2004, 02:53 AM
Two men who murdered an elderly Waikato couple in 1994 could be freed this year.
But the family of one killer – Gresham Marsh – and the family of the victims have united to make sure the killers stay in jail.
Margaret Jamieson's elderly parents John and Josie Harrisson were murdered in a cold blooded shooting in their Te Akau home 10 years ago.
Sharyn Barrington's brother Gresham Marsh, 22 at the time, was one of the shooters along with co-offender Leith Ray, then 19.
The two women have become friends and 10 years on with Ray and Marsh due for parole in June they have come together to try and stop them getting out.
Mrs Jamieson is about to start a letter writing campaign to newspaper editors asking the public to make submissions to the Parole Board to keep the pair in jail.
Mrs Barrington has already written her letter in preparation saying the brother she tried for years to help is still a risk to society.
The Harrissons – John, 83, and Josie, 72, – were murdered on June 1, 2004.
Marsh and Ray had been on a burglary spree stealing a car and.22 rifle.
While the Harrissons slept Marsh and Ray broke into their home, but when one of them coughed it woke Mr Harrisson who confronted the pair.
When he threatened to call police he was shot in the back, his wife was shot while she lay in bed and in a final insult the pair are said to have taken turns at shooting the couple with the stolen.22 rifle.
Mrs Barrington, who lives in Hamilton, says her brother is beyond rehabilitation but also believes justice has not been done.
"At 32 he is still a very high risk, if he was 72 I wouldn't worry about it so much."
"They got 10 years each, five years for each murder. It's not enough."
She says her brother is "wired up wrong" with her family begging with the courts to put him in jail just nine months before he committed the murders.
Mrs Jamieson says she wants the public to make submissions to the Parole Board to help keep them in prison.
"I'm going all out to make sure I get as many people as possible to make submissions, just to oppose it."
"It's not revenge for what they did to my parents I just want to see justice done. It's a bit hard when you get 10 years for murder it's like rubbing salt into the wounds."
The two woman speak on the phone regularly and Mrs Barrington says her family are "constantly humbled" by Mrs Jamieson.
The pair met two years after the murders and have remained friends since.
The two woman want Marsh and Ray to spend another three years behind bars.
Parole Board spokesman Steve Rendle said the public were free to make submissions to the board in respect of inmates due for parole hearings.
Letters can be addressed to PO Box 939 Wellington.
But the family of one killer – Gresham Marsh – and the family of the victims have united to make sure the killers stay in jail.
Margaret Jamieson's elderly parents John and Josie Harrisson were murdered in a cold blooded shooting in their Te Akau home 10 years ago.
Sharyn Barrington's brother Gresham Marsh, 22 at the time, was one of the shooters along with co-offender Leith Ray, then 19.
The two women have become friends and 10 years on with Ray and Marsh due for parole in June they have come together to try and stop them getting out.
Mrs Jamieson is about to start a letter writing campaign to newspaper editors asking the public to make submissions to the Parole Board to keep the pair in jail.
Mrs Barrington has already written her letter in preparation saying the brother she tried for years to help is still a risk to society.
The Harrissons – John, 83, and Josie, 72, – were murdered on June 1, 2004.
Marsh and Ray had been on a burglary spree stealing a car and.22 rifle.
While the Harrissons slept Marsh and Ray broke into their home, but when one of them coughed it woke Mr Harrisson who confronted the pair.
When he threatened to call police he was shot in the back, his wife was shot while she lay in bed and in a final insult the pair are said to have taken turns at shooting the couple with the stolen.22 rifle.
Mrs Barrington, who lives in Hamilton, says her brother is beyond rehabilitation but also believes justice has not been done.
"At 32 he is still a very high risk, if he was 72 I wouldn't worry about it so much."
"They got 10 years each, five years for each murder. It's not enough."
She says her brother is "wired up wrong" with her family begging with the courts to put him in jail just nine months before he committed the murders.
Mrs Jamieson says she wants the public to make submissions to the Parole Board to help keep them in prison.
"I'm going all out to make sure I get as many people as possible to make submissions, just to oppose it."
"It's not revenge for what they did to my parents I just want to see justice done. It's a bit hard when you get 10 years for murder it's like rubbing salt into the wounds."
The two woman speak on the phone regularly and Mrs Barrington says her family are "constantly humbled" by Mrs Jamieson.
The pair met two years after the murders and have remained friends since.
The two woman want Marsh and Ray to spend another three years behind bars.
Parole Board spokesman Steve Rendle said the public were free to make submissions to the board in respect of inmates due for parole hearings.
Letters can be addressed to PO Box 939 Wellington.