Murderer granted parole after 16 years’ jail but barred from returning to Zeehan

A man who stabbed a man to death after a bar room brawl in a small Tasmanian town has been granted parole after almost 16 years in jail. But he’s been banned from entering the township again.

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A ZEEHAN murderer who fatally stabbed a man after a bar room brawl at the Heemskirk Hotel has been granted parole after nearly 16 years in jail.

But David John Wright, who was first taken into custody in 2004, has been barred from entering Zeehan or contacting any of the victims of his offending.

Wright was 35 years old when he stabbed Nigel David Bigwood three times to the thigh and once to the chest.

Murder Trial of David John Wright, David John Wright hides his face as he is taken to the Burnie Supreme Court

He was jailed for 18 years for murder, with a non-parole period of nine years, and has previously failed four attempts at parole.

Wright first applied for parole in December 2013 but was sent back to jail in 2016 due to his drug use – attempting parole and having it revoked again later that year and then in 2018 and 2019.

The crime itself unfolded after a fight broke out in the hotel between the two men.

After a series of scuffles, the trio left the hotel, with Mr Bigwood arming himself with an axe and heading to Wright’s house.

Mr Bigwood died from stab wounds while he was being treated in a driveway.

David John Wright hides his face as he is taken to the Burnie Supreme Court in 2004.

Family members of Nigel Bigwood wore a badge to court during Wright’s murder trial.

During the violent confrontation, Wright plunged a knife through Mr Bigwood’s chest about 180mm deep, through the left lung and to the connecting artery with the heart.

In its newly-published decision, the Parole Board of Tasmania said Wright had struggled to comply with the requirements of parole, specifically drug abstinence.

“Whilst in the past the applicant has struggled with compliance, he has not reoffended and has not harmed the community,” it said.

“He has been incarcerated for nearly 16 years.”

The board said Wright had demonstrated good behaviour in prison and had been described as “polite, compliant and self-reliant”.

It also said even though he’d struggled with abstinence from drugs in the past, he had insight into the negative consequences of substance and alcohol use and was motivated to successfully complete a parole order.

Senior Constable Victor Kubiak, front, and Constable John Gray leave the Burnie Supreme Court during Wright’s 2004 trial.

Wright was granted parole as of March 23.

He must also comply with a mental health care plan.

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