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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| New law written to keep Hoddle Street killer Julian Knight in jail for life | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Melbourne | Melbourne |
| mass murderer Julian Knight will remain behind bars until he is dead or | mass murderer Julian Knight will remain behind bars until he is dead or |
| so ill he will pose no risk to others, under a new law created just for | so ill he will pose no risk to others, under a new law created just for |
| him. | him. |
| The | The |
| Hoddle Street killer, who was sentenced to life in prison with a | |
| 27-year non-parole period for killing seven people and injuring 19 | 27-year non-parole period for killing seven people and injuring 19 |
| during a rampage in 1987, is eligible for parole in May. | during a rampage in 1987, is eligible for parole in May. |
| But | But |
| the government has stepped in and unveiled a new law to be introduced | the government has stepped in and unveiled a new law to be introduced |
| into parliament on Tuesday severely restricting the circumstances in | into parliament on Tuesday severely restricting the circumstances in |
| which the adult parole board can grant Knight parole. | which the adult parole board can grant Knight parole. |
| The | The |
| premier, Denis Napthine, said the law would apply solely to Knight, who | premier, Denis Napthine, said the law would apply solely to Knight, who |
| has failed to show any remorse for murdering seven people and injuring | has failed to show any remorse for murdering seven people and injuring |
| 19 others during a shooting rampage in 1987. | 19 others during a shooting rampage in 1987. |
| “This | “This |
| is guaranteeing that he remains in jail until he’s dead or so seriously | is guaranteeing that he remains in jail until he’s dead or so seriously |
| incapacitated he’s no risk to other people in Victoria or indeed in the | incapacitated he’s no risk to other people in Victoria or indeed in the |
| community,” Napthine told reporters on Tuesday. | community,” Napthine told reporters on Tuesday. |
| Napthine admitted the legislation, which will name Knight, is unusual but warranted in the circumstances. | Napthine admitted the legislation, which will name Knight, is unusual but warranted in the circumstances. |
| He | He |
| said his government’s toughening of parole laws would have made it | said his government’s toughening of parole laws would have made it |
| “extremely unlikely” Knight would have received consideration for | “extremely unlikely” Knight would have received consideration for |
| parole, but the government wanted certainty. | parole, but the government wanted certainty. |
| “To | “To |
| create certainty for victim’s families, for those traumatised by the | create certainty for victim’s families, for those traumatised by the |
| Hoddle Street massacre, for those Victorians who want a safer Victoria, | Hoddle Street massacre, for those Victorians who want a safer Victoria, |
| we wanted the certainty to ensure Mr Knight remained behind bars,” he | we wanted the certainty to ensure Mr Knight remained behind bars,” he |
| said. | said. |
| Napthine said Knight, who is in maximum security jail, had been a difficult prisoner and declared a vexatious litigant. | Napthine said Knight, who is in maximum security jail, had been a difficult prisoner and declared a vexatious litigant. |
| “He | “He |
| has a history of issues in prison, which shows he has no respect for | has a history of issues in prison, which shows he has no respect for |
| the health, safety and wellbeing of his fellow man,” he said. | the health, safety and wellbeing of his fellow man,” he said. |
| Peter | Peter |
| Butts, one of the first police officers to respond to the Hoddle Street | |
| massacre in Melbourne’s Clifton Hill, said there would be wide support | massacre in Melbourne’s Clifton Hill, said there would be wide support |
| for the new law. | for the new law. |
| “Certainly the comments that I’ve heard this morning from the premier and others would be well and truly endorsed,” Butts said. | “Certainly the comments that I’ve heard this morning from the premier and others would be well and truly endorsed,” Butts said. |
| “I genuinely believe it’s a huge win for the community at large, particularly if this legislation is passed.” | “I genuinely believe it’s a huge win for the community at large, particularly if this legislation is passed.” |