Convicted killer free after 11 years in jail
themercury.com.au
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AFTER 11 years in prison, a Hobart man who murdered a stranger in the street by stabbing a knife through his heart has been released on parole.
Garry Thomas Petersen, then 31, murdered 25-yearold Jason Wallace in February 2010 after meeting him by chance in a Clarendon Vale street.
Petersen had just stolen a laptop — which was being used to play music for a group of people he was drinking with — from a nearby residence.
In his published comments on passing sentence, Supreme Court judge Peter Evans said one of Petersen’s friends approached him in a bid to retrieve the laptop, but he produced a folded knife and continued to flee.
Petersen then chanced upon Mr Wallace, who had just left his grandmother’s house, and the pair — both intoxicated — began to argue with each other verbally.
The fight then became physical, with Petersen repeatedly stabbing Mr Wallace and leaving wounds to his ear, abdomen and liver, thigh and forearm.
He also penetrated Mr Wallace’s heart to a depth of 13cm — a distance greater than the length of the blade.
Petersen was jailed for 18 years, with a non-parole period of 11 years.
In its newly published decision, the Parole Board of Tasmania said Petersen had taken steps to address his behaviour while behind bars, including taking part in therapeutic programs to address his substance abuse and criminal conduct.
It said he had developed insight into the impact of alcohol and drugs on his behaviour, and recognised his tendency towards aggression, and the need to find other strategies to deal with conflict.
“Additionally, it is reported the applicant had spoken about the impact of his offence on others and expressed regret towards his victim and others affected by the crime,” the board said.
Before his release on parole on March 1, Petersen had been housed in minimum security for the past year after having previously alternated between medium and maximum security.
Noting the impact of Petersen’s actions on his young victim’s family and the fact he had been assessed as having a “very high risk and needs profile”, the board granted parole on the condition he be subject to electronic monitoring.
Petersen has also been ordered to receive assessment for a mental health plan, and must not contact or approach registered victims.
THE APPLICANT HAD SPOKEN ABOUT THE IMPACT OF HIS OFFENCE ON OTHERS AND EXPRESSED REGRET TOWARDS HIS VICTIM. PAROLE BOARD OF TASMANIA