David Jackson Mahia, 36, who is serving a life sentence for the brutal murder of mother-of-two Nicola Fleming, was released to an Invercargill address provided by his family on September 17 as he is seriously ill and unlikely to recover.
Mahia was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder and sexual violation has was released from prison on compassionate grounds.
Earlier this year it was reported Mahia was being treated for leukemia.
Invercargill detective sergeant Stu Harvey, who was involved in the case, said police were aware of Mahia's release and had checked to make sure the victim's family were also aware of it.
"The process has been followed as it has for any case of this type."
He had no further comment to make.
Mahia was found guilty of the murder of Fleming, 38, at an Invercargill hostel in 2013.
Mahia and Fleming had been in a volatile, on-off relationship. She had been severely beaten, suffering a fractured face, pelvis, sternum and ribs. No part of her face was left without a mark.
He was sentenced sentenced by Justice Mander to life in prison with a minimum non-parole period of 12 and a half years for the murder, and a concurrent sentence of eight years for sexual violation, in June 2014.
