Woman attacked by violent offender years before murder shocked at his prison release

When Nathan Fenton was granted parole after serving decades for the brutal murder of teenager Mairina Dunn, it reignited a nightmare for one of his earlier victims.

After admitting he had treated “just about every partner” with violence and disrespect, Fenton’s release has prompted one of the women to speak publicly for the first time about the trauma, guilt and fear she still carries after surviving a chillingly similar attack before Dunn was killed.

Senior journalist Anna Leask reports.

Nathan Fenton in court following the murder of his teenage girlfriend in 2006. Photo / NZME

She woke up on Wednesday last week to news that made her blood run cold.

Nathan Fenton had been released from prison.

After more than 20 years behind bars – and despite a psychologist saying he fell “in a group of offenders who pose a very high risk” of reoffending – the Parole Board was satisfied he could be released safely.

Fenton, then aged 31 and a Black Power member, admitted murdering his girlfriend Mairina Dunn at a Whangārei house in August 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 attack then continued for several hours.

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

“It was tough, I just cried for hours,” said the woman when asked about her reaction to Fenton’s release from prison.

“The murder he went inside for could have been prevented and I live with guilt daily. I would like to share my story about this man because all I want is to make people more aware of his behaviour so no one else dies.

“It was very similar … really, really similar."

Mairina Dunn. Photo / Supplied

The woman had been with Fenton for about five months when he attacked her.

She still feels panicked and gets very emotional when she talks about that awful day.

“We were together not long when it happened. We were at a party one night at his place and there were quite a few people there. We were walking outside and a guy smiled at me, and I smiled back,” she says.

“Well, [Fenton] didn’t like that and he attacked me … he just beat me, bad.

“I was in a fetal position outside on the ground trying to protect my face and head. He was just going hard. He picked me up by my hair and smashed me headfirst through a van window.

“People obviously left because of what was going on. But some stayed … a couple of people tried to intervene, but obviously, he is not the nicest person and [like in Dunn’s case] they just backed off and he carried on. He dragged me through the house by my hair, just ragdolling me.”

She said Fenton forced her to drive to her house to pick up her young child, who was fast asleep.

Then she was told to return to his place.

“He had his hand around my neck the whole time in the car,” she said.

“He basically held me hostage for more than 12 hours.”

The woman said Fenton subjected her to various brutal and terrifying physical assaults throughout the night.

“The only thing that kept me alive that night, the only thing that kept me sane, was my child. I kept saying I needed to go and check on her … and I just tried to survive the night, do whatever he wanted.

“In the morning I remember being in the shower and the blood was just pouring out of my head to the floor. The water was just red … I thought that if I could just get myself dressed and hold myself together, I would be okay.

“He knew I had to go to work and drop my [child] off on the way. He came with me … I promised him he could take my car for the day because he didn’t have one.

“I just tried to act like everything was normal, as if the night hadn’t even happened. I just kept him happy … I knew that if I could get [my child] safe and get to work, I would be safe.”

Murderer Nathan Fenton. Photo / NZME

When the woman dropped her child at daycare, the staff took one look at her and wanted to call the police.

She asked them not to, worried about what Fenton – who was waiting in the car – might do.

“We drove to my work. He took my car and as soon as I walked into my room, they called the police,” she said.

Fenton was arrested later that day and charged with male assaults female.

She believes he had a firearm and a machete with him when he was located, making his way to her friend’s house where she was hiding from him.

Fenton was sentenced to just four months in prison.

The woman still cannot fathom why he was not charged with more serious offending. Over the years she has asked for details about the prosecution from police and the courts – most recently under the Official Information Act.

She finally has an appointment to meet with police this week to discuss the matter.

“I believe I was one of the first victims … I didn’t know about the others until I read it in the Herald – but I wasn’t surprised,” she said.

“It just makes me angry that more wasn’t done back then. He only got four months … if he had been charged with something more serious he could have still been in prison.

“I am struggling to this day … I carry a lot of guilt. I have PTSD. I am now fighting ACC for surgery for an injury from the attack … it’s just awful.

“I found out about [Dunn] when I read it in the paper … I just couldn’t believe it … I have lived with it ever since. I just feel that they did not do enough when he did what he did to me, and they should have."

In October this year the Parole Board agreed to release Fenton. Photo / RNZ, Marika Khabazi

Over the years, the woman has made submissions to the Parole Board to try to keep Fenton in prison.

Because his 2006 offending did not involve her, she was not able to register as a victim, which meant she did not get any formal updates from the Parole Board about upcoming hearings and she was not invited to make a submission.

However, she was able to make voluntary submissions – which meant she had to contact the board for its decisions and follow up when Fenton was due for another hearing.

She was not told – by anyone – that her attacker was being released.

He walked out of prison on October 5 and was in the community for weeks before his parole decision was made public.

“I literally had a panic attack, I just broke down,” she said.

“I luckily already had a therapist appointment booked and I had to drive to [it] and I just felt so sick and I was just crying and crying and crying.

“I was an absolute mess … even though it was (more than 20) years ago, it still feels like it was yesterday and it’s really hard.”

The woman said she understands why she could not register as a victim – but wanted to see that system changed in cases like hers.

“It’s just it’s crazy, it’s such a broken system. I was absolutely terrified when I read he was out.”

“Any woman that is on that guy’s criminal history needs to be aware.”

She had a firm warning for any woman who encountered Fenton in future.

“Run,” she said.

“Just run… because I don’t believe he can change. It’s just in the family, it’s generational and I don’t know if you can escape from that.”

Nathan Fenton, a member of Black Power, disappeared before the body of girlfriend Mairina Dunn was discovered.

When Fenton was sentenced for Dunn’s murder, the judge said his history made for “depressing reading”.

“You and your father, before you, have been long-time members of the Black Power gang. You were raised in a family environment of violence as well as drug and alcohol abuse,” he said.

“Although you claim to have blacked out and recall little of what happened on the evening in question, the summary of facts makes it clear that you were conscious of what you were doing throughout the lengthy assault on the victim.

“You have an extensive criminal history spanning some 14 years … you admitted to the probation officer, you have an obvious propensity for violence.

“Of particular concern to the probation officer was your belief that you earn the respect of others through fear and intimidation. you appear to have only limited insight into your own use of violence.”

The woman said she would never fully recover from what Fenton did to her.

“It’s just a living nightmare, to be honest.

“I just wish I could close my eyes and it all goes away, but it’s always just there – and [his release] has just been like repeating history all over again.

“It’s horrible … and it just feels like there wasn’t much justice done for me.”

She would like to see changes to the Victim Notification Register that would allow people in her position to find out when their attackers were being released from prison. She appreciates Fenton’s most recent offending was not against her but it was eerily similar and she still lives in fear of him so it would have helped her to know he was going to be back in the community.

Nathan Fenton in police custody after the murder of Mairina Dunn. After beating the teen to death he went on the run for nine days. Photo / Dean Purcell

Chief Victims Advisor Ruth Money said the issue was “absolutely on my radar”.

“Sadly this is not an uncommon occurrence, and it is because of the current legislative settings.

“I do think that there is a pragmatic approach where victims and victim survivors can and should be able to have their say and be notified when the offender is someone as serious as this.

“And I think it makes for better decision-making – it makes the process safer for everybody and at the end of the day, that’s what the public wants and should expect.

“These previous victim survivors have got a lot of intel and the more information that goes into the system to make a safe decision, the better.”

Ruth Money is the Government's Chief Victims Advisor. Photo / Supplied

Money said in the cases of offenders as violent and frequent as Fenton, all victims “need more rights”.

“And the system needs their input – the system should be welcoming their feedback.

“But, with the current legislation, our victims’ rights clash against the offender’s privacy rights

“My position is obviously that the victim survivors’ rights, and safety to the community should privilege the offender’s privacy rights in decisions like this. But there is always a tension between how much information you can get as a victim survivor.”

In future, Money hoped to see a system governed by legislation that allowed for anyone to submit to the Parole Board about an offender “should they have relevant and compelling information”.

FAMILY HARM

How to get help:

If you're in danger now phone the police on 111 if you can do so safely

For more information:
• Women's Refuge: Crisis line - 0800 REFUGE or 0800 733 843 (available 24/7)
• Shine: Helpline - 0508 744 633 (available 24/7)
• Shakti: Specialist services for African, Asian and Middle Eastern women and children. Crisis line - 0800 733 843(available 24/7)
• ECLIPSE Famly Violence Services: Support options for all primary victims and predominant aggressors regardless of gender, as well as all diversity groups and demographics.
• She Is Not Your Rehab: An anti-violence movement that exists to address and dismantle the cycles of intergenerational trauma, violence, and abuse by promoting safe relationships and providing support and resources for individuals and communities.

Anna Leask is a senior journalist who covers Christchurch issues and national crime and justice. She joined the Herald in 2008 and has worked as a journalist for more than 20 years with a particular focus on family and gender-based violence, child abuse, sexual violence and homicides. She writes, hosts and produces the award-winning podcast A Moment In Crime, released monthly on nzherald.co.nz.