Parole denied under new law
One of the men charged over the death of Timothy Pullen has been refused parole under the state’s new “no body, no parole” laws.
ONE of the men charged over the death of Mackay man Timothy Pullen has been refused parole after a hearing under the state’s new “no body, no parole” laws.
The Parole Board yesterday found that it was not satisfied Stephen Renwick had co-operated satisfactorily in the investigation to find Mr Pullen’s body.
In its decision, it said it did not accept the location given by Renwick was the true area. It also said he had lied to police when asked in 2012.
Under the new laws, a prisoner can be freed if the Parole Board decides a good attempt has been made to identify the victim’s location.
“If he is granted parole, I think our hope of ever finding Tim’s remains is lost,” the victim’s mother Leanne Pullen said last month when Renwick sought parole via videolink.
Renwick’s lawyer Nick Dore said: “We will be exploring all appeal options open to our client in the coming months and today’s decision does not finalise the matter.”
During the past 20 months, Renwick, who disposed of Pullen’s body near Collinsville, west of Mackay, in 2012, has given police two locations for the remains.
When Renwick first took police to what he claimed was a bush burial site, he did not speak to investigators and took a lawyer with him. The search, which was unsuccessful, was part of Renwick’s plea deal with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Detectives approached Renwick again late last year, explaining the “no body, no parole laws” and were given a second location, not far from the original search site. That search was also unsuccessful.
Police argued Renwick knew more than he had told them and he should remain behind bars. “I think it should be black and white. He shouldn’t be released from prison,” Mrs Pullen said before the hearing.
Renwick and his accomplice, Luke Kister, were convicted in 2016 of disposing of Mr Pullen’s remains. Kister was released from prison before the new laws were introduced.
Benjamin Oakley, one of the killers, was also controversially released last year before the laws came into effect.
Corrections Minister Mark Ryan posed with the Pullens for photographs after the “no body, no parole” laws were introduced in August.