Shadow Justice Minister Trevor Moniz yesterday said convicted killer Kellan Lewis should have brought relief to the family of Kellon Hill by confessing to his manslaughter — instead of acting as though he's a victim himself.

Mr. Moniz said Lewis' public statement — claiming he'd transformed himself through the Mirrors programme — seemed like a cynical ploy to help him get parole.

The MP said he was dismayed that at no point in his speech did the 18-year-old admit his offence, nor show any contrition.

"I didn't see him say, 'I did it,'" Mr. Moniz told The Royal Gazette yesterday.

"If you want forgiveness for your sins, the first thing you have to do is confess to the wrong you committed and show contrition for that act and say, 'I'm sorry for what I did.'

"I was absolutely aghast. It was just dreadful. All the way through his speech he acted as if he's a victim. It seemed to be a very cynical, manipulative speech to increase his chances for parole."

Student Kellon, 18, was fatally stabbed during a late-night party at Elbow Beach on August 9, 2008.

Lewis was one of five teenagers including Kevin Warner, Zharrin Simmons, Gary Hollis, and Devon Hairston who originally went on trial for the killing. He alone was convicted of the attack.

"He put the family through two trials; he didn't make it easy for the family of Kellon Hill. He protested his innocence. It was horrific. He seems to show no sincere understanding or remorse for his actions," said Mr. Moniz.

In a speech read out at the Mirrors completion ceremony on Saturday, Lewis revealed he had completed Mirrors while starting his 12-year prison sentence.

Mr. Moniz said Mirrors shouldn't be used to allow people to think they can be forgiven for their crimes without repentance.

"I hope this Mirrors programme isn't misleading people into thinking that they can correct things in this completely false and shambolic way," he said.

"After this I sincerely hope he can find an honest path to understanding what he has done and I hope the Mirrors Programme can help him to do this.

"All too often we see people commit sociopathic, callous, anti-social crimes and then narcissistically act as if they are the victim."