Long-time inmate in bid for freedom

ONE of Tasmania’s longestserving inmates, who has spent his entire adult life inside the walls of Risdon prison, may be able to be released if he commits to attending appointments with his support team, says Justice Helen Wood.

Jamie Gregory McCrossen, 45, who has not been outside prison since he was 18, was jailed for assault and wounding after holding up a Hobart antique shop with an antique pistol in 1990 and was detained at the Governor’s pleasure a year later after sending death threats to his victim.

McCrossen had previously applied to have a Dangerous Criminal declaration ordered in 1991 reversed.

The application was denied last year by Justice Shan Tennent, who said the inmate’s institutionalised nature and unwillingness to engage in prison programs meant she could not be satisfied he would not pose a risk to the community if released.

A plan of engagement has been developed for McCrossen, which includes appointments with well-known speech pathologist Rosalie Martin, in an attempt to prepare him for possible reintegration into society.

“I realise I’ve had a lot of people help me and I’m grateful. I haven’t actually killed anyone [but] I’ve spent all this time behind bars — other people have done far worse. It’s unfair,” McCrossen said before Justice Wood yesterday.

Justice Wood said she had confidence that with a support team McCrossen could learn to function outside of prison.

“But I do want to see a report to show the process with your team has started,” she said.

The hearing was adjourned until next Friday.