Man who beat his girlfriend to death released from jail, despite 'very high risk' of offending

A killer who admitted he treated “just about every partner” with violence and disrespect has been granted parole after nearly 20 years in prison. 

Nathan Charles Fenton’s release comes despite a psychologist’s concerns that any future offending will most likely emerge in an intimate relationship. 

Fenton, then aged 31 and a Black Power member, admitted murdering his girlfriend Mairina Dunn in a Holmes Ave, Ōtangarei house on August 27, 2006. 

Dunn was just 17 when Fenton arrived at her address, drunk and high on methamphetamine, and dragged her from her bed and took her to another room. 

The initial beating lasted 90 minutes, during which he used a sawn-off shotgun. The police summary of facts said the beating continued for several hours. 

Four witnesses were at the home, including two who had children with them. 

Fenton threatened them with the gun and they were too scared to help for fear they would be attacked. 

Pathologist reports said Dunn likely died from massive head injuries or a punctured lung. 

Fenton went on the run for 10 days after the murder, sparking a regionwide police hunt, before he was caught with his ex-partner Eileen Verna Everitt in September 2006. 

Fenton pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum non-parole period of 17 years in the High Court at Whangārei on April 30, 2007. 

Fenton became eligible for parole in 2023 but was denied release. He reapplied in 2025 and earlier in 2026. 

With four active protection orders from former partners, Fenton has been candid with the Parole Board about his former views of women stemming from his upbringing. 

“He objectified them and saw them as possessions. He said that he treated just about every partner with violence and with a lack of respect. 

“He said he lacked his own role models and wants over time to build better and healthier relationships in the community,” the 2023 Parole Board report noted. 

Fenton has told report writers and the board that he can only recall bits and pieces of the night and things were blurry. 

Several psychologist reports have been completed over the years, with one noting if he reoffends it will likely be against a partner in a domestic relationship. 

Psychologists also said the range of his violent behaviour could extend to men if there was a perceived sense of disrespect. 

All Parole Board hearings have noted the progress Fenton has made completing several rehabilitation programmes, becoming a mentor, no longer being affiliated with Black Power and having no violent incidents while incarcerated since 2012. 

In April, Fenton provided a safety plan to the Parole Board and expressed remorse to the Dunn whānau for the pain he caused them. 

Mairina's mother Queenie Dunn petitioned the Parole Board in 2023 not to release Fenton. Photo / NZME 

The board said it still had concerns about work he had to do on relationships, noting Fenton had said his relationships were often characterised by power and control. 

He was denied parole again, but when he came before the board on September 11, his release was granted. 

The Parole Board said Fenton had completed special treatment for violent offending and the drug programme, been in the self-care unit at Rimutaka Prison and undertaken eight guided releases. 

Since his April hearing he had developed his safety plan and recognised the utmost diligence was required in managing himself in high-risk situations. 

“The board is conscious of Mr Fenton’s very high risk of returning to general offending, but we are satisfied that the changes he has made and the considerable support and supervision available to him in the community are sufficient for us to be satisfied that he meets the statutory test for release on parole,” the Parole Board said. 

Fenton was released in early October and is subject to release conditions for life, including monitoring by the Parole Board. 

He will also be subject to routine drug and alcohol testing and GPS monitoring. 

Several other conditions were imposed, including not entering into any relationship without prior written approval from Corrections. 

Shannon Pitman is a Whangārei-based reporter for Open Justice covering courts in the Te Tai Tokerau region. She is of Ngāpuhi/Ngāti Pūkenga descent and has worked in digital media for the past five years. She joined NZME in 2023.