NO JULIE NO PAROLE
Killer to rot in jail unless wife is found
THE LNP has vowed that if it wins government, “no body, no parole” laws will keep killer Michael Hutchinson behind bars unless wife Julie’s body is found. LNP Police and Corrective Services spokesman Tim Mander confirmed if the Opposition gained power, it would introduce retrospective laws to ensure Hutchinson did not get parole unless he revealed the body’s location.
YES OUR POLICY WOULD BE RETROSPECTIVE AND AFFECT THE ( HUTCHINSON) CASE
THE LNP has vowed that if it wins government, “no body, no parole” legislation will keep killer Michael Geoffrey Hutchinson behind bars for the entirety of his jail term.
LNP police and corrective services spokesman Tim Mander yesterday confirmed if the Opposition gained power, it would introduce retrospective legislation to ensure Hutchinson did not get parole unless he revealed where he disposed of his wife Julie’s body.
“Yes our policy would be retrospective and affect the ( Hutchinson) case,” he said.
“If we were to introduce it to law, it would affect anyone now serving a sentence for murder or manslaughter who would come up for parole in the future – they will not get early release.”
Mr Mander said the LNP legislation would provide an incentive for offenders to cooperate with authorities and attempt to deliver “closure” for relatives – like the family of Julie Hutchinson.
“No doubt the relatives ( of Julie) want to know where her remains are and that’s exactly why we will have a policy like this so the families of victims can have peace of mind,” he said.
Hutchinson claimed during his murder trial in the Supreme Court this week he dumped his wife’s body somewhere on Herveys Range but that he “could not remember” where.
It is hoped the legislation would help jog the memory of killers such as Hutchinson, who was convicted of manslaughter but not of murder, with the proposed legislation to include those convicted of either charge.
The Labor State Government would not confirm yesterday if its proposed laws would be retrospective and see matters, such as Hutchinson’s, included.
A spokeswoman for Attorney- General Yvette D’Ath said the State Government was “committed to introducing ‘ no body, no parole’ legislation this year” and was considering various models that could be adopted, such as rules applied in South Australia.
Mr Mander said the LNP proposed a “no body, no parole” rule late last year, months before Labor, with the support of Bruce and Denise Morcombe and victims of crime groups.
Soon after, a report into the state’s parole system by former solicitor- general Walter Sofronoff QC provided 91 recommendations, of which 89 were supported, including the “no body, no parole” legislation.
It was also recommended by Mr Sofronoff that a “professional, full- time” parole board be set up – with the recommendation coming after the death of 81- year- old Townsville grandmother Elizabeth Kippin, who was killed in her home last July, allegedly by a man released on parole hours earlier.
“Labor have sat on this review for 10 weeks we need action now. Community safety is at stake,” Mr Mander said. “If someone is released on parole, it’s not acceptable for them to commit a crime similar to the one allegedly committed against Beth Kippin.”