Man jailed over fatal beating of 10-year-old denied parole again

Tuesday, 7 July 2026

Peter Wayne Ryder has again been denied parole after the Parole Board found he remains an undue risk to the community.

The man who fatally beat his 10-year-old stepson over a missing $5 has again been denied parole.

Peter Wayne Ryder, 67, is serving a life sentence for the 1994 murder of Christchurch schoolboy Glen Bo Duggan, who died four days after suffering catastrophic brain injuries during a two-day beating. The court heard Ryder kicked, punched and struck the boy with a hearth brush after accusing him of stealing $5 from his wallet.

A newly released Parole Board decision shows Ryder did not seek release at his latest hearing in May. The board said he had become more stable since his previous hearing but still posed an undue risk.

Glen Bo Duggan died in April 1994, four days after suffering catastrophic brain injuries during a prolonged assault at his Christchurch home.

Ryder has twice been released on parole since the murder but was recalled to prison both times. In 2014, while on parole, he was sentenced to 22 months’ imprisonment after admitting assault with intent to injure and threatening to kill his former partner.

The latest parole decision records Ryder has made steady progress since transferring to Otago Corrections Facility last July. He has been working outside the prison wire on the prison grounds and dairy farm, is living in self-care accommodation and has been taking part in shopping trips as part of his reintegration.

Ryder told the board the new prison environment had given him “a different mindset” and said one of the biggest challenges if released would be how people viewed his crime. He identified drug use, dishonesty and some personal relationships as key risks he would need to manage.

The board said Ryder had become “much more stable in terms of his progress in prison” since his last hearing, but remained concerned by his history.

“We are … well aware of his issues with deceit and manipulation in the past,” the decision said.

A new memorial to Glen was unveiled at Arahina ki Otautahi, formerly Richmond School, in April 2017.

Ryder is waiting for a place at supported accommodation but does not yet have an approved release address. The board said he needed to update his safety plan before his next hearing and encouraged him to continue reintegration activities, including guided releases if approved.

The board will consider Ryder for parole again next year.