Christie Marceau's family devastated after murderer Akshay Chand allowed out

The man who murdered Christie Marceau is being allowed out on public trips from the secure mental health clinic just six years after the killing.

Marceau was stabbed to death in her North Shore home when she was 18 by a youth on bail for earlier offending against her.

She died in her mother's arms on the deck while murderer Akshay Chand - who was later found to be legally insane - calmly waited for police.

Her grieving parents Brian and Tracey Marceau were unaware Chand had been granted leave until they were informed by the media this week. He has been seen at an Auckland public library and at McDonald's and Countdown, Fairfax reported.

Tracey and Brian Marceau, the parents of murdered woman Christie Marceau. Photo / Nick Reed

The Waitemata District Health Board confirmed to the family's advocate that Chand was allowed escorted outings.

The Marceaus were worried about the threat he may pose to their family in Auckland.

They are calling for a law change so victims' families are better notified when offenders are granted leave.

"It is extremely concerning, we are absolutely devastated," Tracey Marceau told Fairfax.

"It's all I keep thinking about... I have had horrendous nightmares. As much as I hope we are safe, it is pretty frightening.

"After everything we have been put through this is another kick in the face," she told Fairfax.

"He is out there and people need to be extremely, extremely vigilant. I do believe he is extremely dangerous."

Akshay Chand was found not guilty of murdering Christie Marceau by reason of insanity after being diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. Photo / Paul Estcourt

Chand was found not guilty of her murder by reason of insanity after being diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. He was placed in the care of Waitemata DHB's Mason Clinic as a special patient.

The Marceaus, who now live abroad, were assured if Chand was ever granted leave from the clinic they would be notified. However, a loophole in the Victims' Rights Act means legally the DHB only has to notify victims when the leave is unescorted.

Mason Clinic spokesperson Dr Krishna Pillai said any form of leave required the approval of the Ministry of Health and patients were escorted by "qualified staff".

Pillai declined to answer questions about the details of Chand's leave, and said staff could not inform families of escorted leave due to patient privacy.

Victims' advocate Ruth Money said Pillai was making excuses and hiding behind the act.

"All we are wanting is a notification he is out. I don't understand how that is an invasion of his privacy. What would have happened if he had bumped into the family as happened in another case in 2015?"

The murder

Two months before she was killed Christie was called to the home of a teen she knew from school - Akshay Chand.

The troubled youth threatened to harm himself if she did not come over, so she raced to his house.

There, he held her hostage, forced her to undress at knifepoint and threatened to rape her.

After his arrest Christie wrote a letter to the court pleading for him to stay in custody because she was terrified of him.

"I am worried that he may still try to get revenge on me as he is already in trouble and has nothing to lose if he tries again," she wrote.

"This causes me to fear for my safety.

"I... have it constantly on my mind that he is out and has the possibility of getting me again.

"I would like to get on with my life but at present I need to know that I don't have to encounter him as I try to restore my faith in people as this has caused me a lot of distress."

Just 33 days after Chand was bailed, he went to the Marceau house and killed Christie, using a knife he'd taken from his mother's kitchen and hidden.

Just before 7am there was a knock at the door and, thinking it was the courier dropping off another of her daughter's online purchases, Tracey Marceau opened it.

There stood Chand, armed with a knife.

He pushed past Tracey, who started screaming.

As she ran for the phone to call 111 Christie came out of her room, woken by her mother's screams.

She saw Chand and ran for her life.

He chased her down the stairs and on to a deck on the lower level of the house.

As Christie frantically tried to get the gate unlocked, which led to the driveway and her escape, Chand caught her.

What happened next, Tracey did not see.

By the time she got to the deck Christie was lying on the wood and Chand was standing nearby.

She ran to her daughter, held her close and tried to comfort her.

"I watched the life drain out of her while I was still holding her. I felt her slip away from me.

"I was telling her to hang on, that help was on its way. I know she tried, she really tried. And then she was gone."