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New law written to keep Hoddle Street killer Julian Knight in jail for life New law written to keep Hoddle Street killer Julian Knight in jail for life
(6 months later)
Melbourne Melbourne 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 him.
mass murderer Julian Knight will remain behind bars until he is dead or 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 during a rampage in 1987, is eligible for parole in May.
so ill he will pose no risk to others, under a new law created just for But the government has stepped in and unveiled a new law to be introduced into parliament on Tuesday severely restricting the circumstances in which the adult parole board can grant Knight parole.
him. The premier, Denis Napthine, said the law would apply solely to Knight, who has failed to show any remorse for murdering seven people and injuring 19 others during a shooting rampage in 1987.
The “This 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 community,” Napthine told reporters on Tuesday.
Hoddle Street killer, who was sentenced to life in prison with a
27-year non-parole period for killing seven people and injuring 19
during a rampage in 1987, is eligible for parole in May.
But
the government has stepped in and unveiled a new law to be introduced
into parliament on Tuesday severely restricting the circumstances in
which the adult parole board can grant Knight parole.
The
premier, Denis Napthine, said the law would apply solely to Knight, who
has failed to show any remorse for murdering seven people and injuring
19 others during a shooting rampage in 1987.
“This
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
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 “extremely unlikely” Knight would have received consideration for parole, but the government wanted certainty.
said his government’s toughening of parole laws would have made it “To create certainty for victim’s families, for those traumatised by the Hoddle Street massacre, for those Victorians who want a safer Victoria, we wanted the certainty to ensure Mr Knight remained behind bars,” he said.
“extremely unlikely” Knight would have received consideration for
parole, but the government wanted certainty.
“To
create certainty for victim’s families, for those traumatised by the
Hoddle Street massacre, for those Victorians who want a safer Victoria,
we wanted the certainty to ensure Mr Knight remained behind bars,” he
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 the health, safety and wellbeing of his fellow man,” he said.
has a history of issues in prison, which shows he has no respect for 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 for the new law.
the health, safety and wellbeing of his fellow man,” he said.
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
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.”