Homeless plea on Givealittle prompts check from Corrections

Jennifer Scott initially posted a photo of her and her partner, Gresham Marsh, aka David Jones,...
Jennifer Scott initially posted a photo of her and her partner, Gresham Marsh, aka David Jones, seeking money from the public. It has since been removed. PHOTO: GIVEALITTLE
A convicted double murderer in a relationship with a controversial Dunedin former nurse is being "closely managed", Corrections says.

Gresham Kirsten Leith Marsh, who has changed his name to the less conspicuous David Jones, was released from prison four years ago after the 1994 killing of John and Josephine Harrisson in their rural Waikato home just days after their 50th wedding anniversary.

He and teenager Leith Ray entered the property in the middle of the night with a .22 rifle and shot the couple a total of six times before stealing cash, jewellery and petrol.

The Otago Daily Times understands Jones, who is on parole with conditions for life, kept his head down, initially working on farms south of Dunedin, but last week he was thrust into the spotlight by Jennifer Scott, a woman who proudly calls herself "Terf of the south" (trans-exclusionary radical feminist) on social media.

At a hearing last week, the Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal (HPDT) found she had brought discredit to the nursing profession through her very public anti-vaccination stance, and her similarly vocal anti-transgender views also warranted discipline.

To add to Scott’s woes, police were called in to assist in evicting her from her home on August 2 following a mortgagee sale.

It resulted in Scott setting up a Givealittle page entitled "Mandated and Homeless".

Including a photo of her alongside Jones and two dogs, she wrote they were homeless and "requiring help with funds to move forward to buy a campervan or caravan . . . and not rely on couch surfing until we can find more permanent accommodation".

After the ODT approached Corrections about its oversight of Jones and his supposedly fraught living situation, the photo was removed from the page and all mention of Scott’s "partner" was deleted.

Corrections general manager, communities, partnerships and pathways Emma Wallace said Jones was being "closely managed" through electronic monitoring and visits to his home.

"It's good, in a sense, that he’s moving on ... but it doesn’t sound like he’s doing himself any...
"It's good, in a sense, that he’s moving on ... but it doesn’t sound like he’s doing himself any favours by mixing with another criminal" — Margaret Jamieson, the daughter of murderer Gresham Marsh’s victims
"Through this we know he is not transient — he is residing at an approved address and has been fully compliant with his [parole] conditions," she said.

Scott, who was convicted of spraying profane graffiti on an ex-boyfriend's truck last year, is currently facing "hate crime" charges before the Dunedin District Court after allegedly inflammatory conduct at a pro-Palestine rally in the Octagon.

She is accused of yelling "Palestine rapes and murders babies" and repeatedly chanting "where is Palestine?" while recording the protesters with her phone.

It is alleged Scott then resisted police as they arrested her.

Corrections can control domestic contact between a parolee and anyone considered to elevate their risk.

Ms Wallace stressed community safety was the top priority.

"The woman you have referred to in your query [Scott] is not an occupant of the offender’s approved address."

For Margaret Jamieson, the daughter of Jones’ victims, the chapter was yet another reminder of the tragedy 30 years ago.

"You sort of live with it ... but there’s always something that dredges up the memories," she said.

The pain of the violent deaths was predictably sharp but Ms Jamieson said the repercussions had continued through the decades.

Because of public comments made in the aftermath, she was all but estranged from her siblings and, in fact, had more contact with members of the Marsh family who had shown their support over many years.

Despite Jones’ callous killing of her parents, Ms Jamieson retained some compassion.

"[He] might be out but it mustn’t be too pleasant for him. He must always be looking over his shoulder or think that someone is going to find out who he is," she said.

"It’s good, in a sense, that he’s moving on ... but it doesn’t sound like he’s doing himself any favours by mixing with another criminal."

Scott was approached for comment but blocked the ODT from her Facebook page.

Her Givealittle page had raised $136 yesterday.

A decision by the HPDT on whether Scott’s nursing practising certificate would be cancelled is expected this week.

 

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