Man admits double murder, six years after killing wife on honeymoon

Rodney Fallowfield has today admitted to murdering two men in Christchurch last month. 

Fallowfield, 58, appeared in the High Court at Christchurch this morning charged with the murders of former Devils Henchmen Motorcycle Club president Glen Tukaki and Nigel Robinson. 

The courtroom was packed when a member of the public stood and yelled “You gutless piece of s...” as Fallowfield was led into custody, after entering guilty pleas to two murders, wounding with reckless disregard, and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. 

The court heard that four victims were associated with the same residential complex as Fallowfield. 

At about midnight on October 10, Fallowfield believed someone had slashed his car tyres and spoke with one of his neighbours. 

He was angered by the damage and returned to his unit and got a bowie knife and a folding knife, the court heard. 

He went to a unit and confronted Nigel Robinson, stabbing him multiple times in the chest. 

Robinson ran but died shortly afterwards. Another person tried to intervene and was stabbed. A third person also tried to intervene but Fallowfield got past them and repeatedly stabbed Tukaki, the court heard. 

He will be sentenced on April 10 next year. 

It is not the first time Fallowfield has killed. 

In 2021, he was jailed for more than four years for strangling his wife Shirley Reedy to death. 

Rodney Fallowfield at the High Court in Christchurch today. Pool photo / RNZ 

Fallowfield, then 54, killed Reedy at a Te Anau motel while on a belated honeymoon after they had married in April the preceding year. 

After a trial in the High Court at Invercargill, Fallowfield was found not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter. 

During the trial, the Crown argued Fallowfield strangled Reedy because he wanted to silence her when she threatened him with a rape allegation, while the defence said he “snapped” but did not mean for his actions to be fatal. 

Fallowfield admitted responsibility for Reedy’s death but denied he intended to kill her. 

At a parole hearing in 2022, Fallowfield was said to be “genuinely remorseful”. 

“He confirmed to the board that he was truly sorry for what had happened, and he will have to live with his guilt forever,” said Parole Board panel convenor Serina Bailey. 

The board heard that Fallowfield had a lengthy criminal record featuring assaults, attempted arson, driving matters, dishonesty and burglary. 

The Otago Daily Times, after Fallowfield’s sentencing, revealed evidence about a previous strangling that the jury did not hear. 

The woman involved said Fallowfield attacked her after she had problems sourcing drugs, verbally abused her, then choked her. 

She recalled coming to as he stood over her. 

“He told me he thought he’d killed me. He told me I lost consciousness and began to have a seizure. I don’t know how long I was unconscious for.” 

Fallowfield was initially denied parole but released in 2023. He told the Parole Board he wanted to “move on” with his life. 

The board met with one of his victims, who said her family had “forgiven” the killer. 

“But what they really wanted to know is why he committed the manslaughter, not just the details of the offending,” the board decision said. 

“She reiterated that the family miss their sister and daughter greatly.” 

He was released on parole with a number of conditions that were in place for six months. 

“This board considers he is no longer an undue risk considering the work he has done in the prison, his presentation today, his future planning and the support he will have in the community and the conditions which are to be imposed,” the decision said. 

“It is noted he is considered as low risk of re‑offending.” 

Al Williams is an Open Justice reporter for the New Zealand Herald, based in Christchurch. He has worked in daily and community titles in New Zealand and overseas for the last 16 years. Most recently he was editor of the Hauraki-Coromandel Post, based in Whangamatā. He was previously deputy editor of the Cook Islands News.