Dee-Jay Feil out of jail after best mate’s birthday party stabbing death

A man jailed for the manslaughter stabbing death of a friend has been paroled after nearly four years.

Dee-Jay Feil, centre, was jailed almost four years ago for the manslaughter of his best friend, Zachary Hyde, after a Pontville birthday party.

NEARLY four years have passed since then-19-year-old Dee-Jay Feil stabbed his best friend in the leg at Pontville, when a birthday night of fun and eight-ball turned tragic.

Feil had unknowingly severed Zachary Hyde’s femoral artery with a black-handled steak knife, and the 20-year-old died in hospital two days later with a brain injury caused by blood loss.

After pleading guilty to manslaughter and serving three years and nine months in jail, Feil, now 23, has been released on parole.

MAN, 20, DIES IN RHH FROM STABBING INJURIES

DEE-JAY FEIL JAILED FOR MANSLAUGHTER OF MATE

A recently published Parole Board of Tasmania decision said the maximum-security prisoner’s freedom came despite being caught trafficking drugs with another inmate and possessing unauthorised items behind bars.

The board noted the youth’s remorse, family support and positive engagement with anger-management and drug programs before releasing him on February 19.

However he must follow special conditions not to contact Mr Hyde’s family or enter a “defined location” in the state’s south.

The board also noted Feil would need ongoing alcohol, drug and mental health support.

Mr Hyde, a young Bridgewater father, left a 24-metre trail of blood after Feil stabbed his upper leg in May 2016 and fled on foot.

The fatal midnight attack occurred after the pair and their friends left Pontville’s Crown Inn, where they had spent a night drinking to celebrate a birthday party.

Mr Hyde staggered to a restaurant carpark and collapsed, losing consciousness before paramedics arrived to find him in cardiac arrest.

Feil handed himself in to the Bridgewater police station later the same morning and was jailed for seven years, with a non-parole period of three-and-a-half years.

The board said it took Mr Hyde’s family into account before granting Feil parole.

“The impact of the applicant’s offending behaviour on the victim’s immediate extended family has been significant, they have suffered the loss of a young father and partner, and a beloved sibling and son,” the decision read.

“Nothing can be done to alleviate this loss. Statements made on behalf of the family provided to the Board have been carefully considered when determining the eligibility of this applicant for parole.”