Wednesday, 21 September 2022

Parole eligibility

Petition

Mr GRIMLEY (Western Victoria) (17:41): I rise to speak on Mr Limbrick’s e-petition regarding the life imprisonment of Paul Charles Denyer. A resounding 5421 other people agree with the sentiment of keeping Denyer in jail for life, and so does Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party. The petition calls on the government to ensure that the Frankston serial killer remains imprisoned for life to prevent further trauma to people impacted by his crimes through future parole hearings. Put simply, this man is a sociopathic psychopath who should never see freedom. He will never not be a risk to the community and frankly should not be offered that option. Denyer was given a life sentence, but he appealed this and was later given a non-parole period of 30 years. The original sentencing judge, Justice Vincent, said this reflected the impact of his crimes on the entire community, especially women, not just the families and friends of the victims.

Due to his own predispositions and mental issues, Denyer took three innocent lives in cold blood, whose names we should never forget: Elizabeth Stevens, Deborah Fream and Natalie Russell. Each was innocently just going about their life before it was prematurely taken away from them without any provocation or reason. Our thoughts are with each of the victims’ families and friends, including our colleague Mr Limbrick, who was Ms Russell’s boyfriend at the time. You never forget events like this, and we offer our condolences but also our support to those who continue to be affected by these crimes. It is important in speaking to the motion to mention that in his police interview Denyer said, ‘I just hate ’em’, referring to women, as his justification for these murders. His reason for taking three innocent lives was that he did not like women. The renowned crime reporter John Silvester said of Denyer:

Once he decided to confess he wasn’t begrudging or ashamed he was enthusiastic, it’s like he was bragging to police about how clever he was.

I just cannot comprehend how such a person, who has still been having mental issues in prison, could even be considered for parole. Mr Limbrick and I do not agree on everything in this place, but he said no-one in Victoria could feel safe if he is released, especially women, and I wholeheartedly stand by his statement.

There is always pushback from legal figures and courts, who want to maintain their independence when there are calls like this from politicians, but unless you have been affected by these crimes it is difficult to argue. Mr Limbrick does not call for the detainment of Denyer as a politician, he calls for it as a secondary victim. It is clear to us that some people do not deserve freedom and should not be in the community, because they will never change. If you believe everyone can change, get your head out of the sand, because it is simply not true. Some people will never change. Bernie Rankin, a Frankston detective senior sergeant at the time of Denyer’s crime, said he ‘will never not be a risk to the community. Never’.

It is for these reasons that Denyer should not be eligible for parole—not in 2023, not ever. I commend this e-petition to the house, and I congratulate Mr Limbrick on his advocacy for Ms Russell and the families and friends of other victims as well.