A Parole Board hearing this week — attended by the Otago Daily Times — marked the first time Lance Colin Robert Moore had openly spoken of the circumstances that led to him running down 28-year-old Sean Buis beside a Dunedin park in July 2022.
"I’ve been in here over 16 months trying to come up with a reason for why I did what I did, but I don’t know why I did it. All I can say is I wish it never happened ... I wish I could bring him back, but I can’t," the tearful 37-year-old said.
"It’s drugs. I had been sitting at home by myself for about a week and a-half. I hadn’t slept, I hadn’t eaten, I just kept taking the drugs, trying to push away the feelings."
At sentencing, the court heard how Moore had supplied methamphetamine to a woman on the understanding she would later settle the $350 debt.
She blamed Mr Buis for the loss of the drugs and her subsequent inability to repay Moore.
The woman contacted others in the criminal community who helped her lure the victim to Unity Park.
Others also held grudges against Mr Buis and descended on the scene.
When Mr Moore was informed of the man’s movements, he set off towards Mornington in a borrowed red Ford Falcon.
The court heard he was on bail and banned from driving at the time.
When Moore arrived, he saw Mr Buis being chased across the field towards Eglinton Rd and he made a U-turn to intercept him.
As Mr Buis emerged by the road, Moore drove at him.
Before the collision, Mr Buis tripped and was dragged more than 4m by the vehicle, dying at the scene.
The victim’s family told the Parole Board that they believed Moore was a "very damaged person" who needed signi-
ficant rehabilitation before he could be released.
"The family are not vindictive. They just want this to never happen again," board panel member Greg Coyle said.
Moore was asked to respond.
"I don’t know what to say, but nothing I can say can change the hurt that they’re feeling. But with only my actions I can show I’m sorry, I’m remorseful and I’m seeking change," he said.
The board heard Moore had transferred from the Otago Corrections Facility to Christchurch Men’s Prison to start a six-month drug treatment programme this month and had made contact with residential rehabilitation programmes in preparation for his release.
But his principal Corrections officer urged him not to look too far ahead.
"It’s about staying out rather than getting out," she said.
Counsel Sarah Saunderson-Warner conceded her client was not seeking parole at present and sought another hearing for her client in October, but panel convener Martha Coleman said that was too soon.
Moore also needed "offence-focused treatment" and reintegration work before he could be safely paroled, Ms Coleman said.
"This is the ultimate in terms of a bad outcome from your decisions and you really need to address that," she said.
"We think this is going to take some time."
Ms Coleman scheduled Moore’s next hearing for August 2025.
