Wendy Robinson has expressed feeling 'sick and fearful' after the man who killed her parents, Ian and Margaret Settree, was granted escorted day leave from a medium-security facility. The killer, who was found not guilty by reason of mental illness, was transferred from a forensic health facility in September last year, causing distress to Robinson who attends regular Mental Health Review Tribunal hearings to voice her concerns.
When the person who killed Wendy Robinson's parents was granted escorted day leave , she says she felt "sick and fearful".Ian and Margaret Settree were murdered in their home in western New South Wales in 2014.Their killer admitted to the crime but was found not guilty by reason of mental illness and cannot be identified for legal reasons.
"You just keep hearing, 'He's doing well, he's progressing, he's responding to treatment'," she said. Under the proposed changes, decisions regarding leave, other than escorted leave, would require approval by current or former judicial officers. "Simple things like just having their IT systems sorted out so that we can actually hear and have access to those hearings, better records, victims having greater input and greater say in those tribunal hearings," she said.The biggest complexity for the Mental Health Review Tribunal, according to former president Daniel Howard, involves balancing the rights and rehabilitation of mentally ill offenders with public safety.
"Some people have been in the forensic hospital in high security for quite a long time and whilst you would hope you'd never say a person will never be able to get leave and release, there are some cases that are much harder than others," he said. Mr Howard acknowledged the tension between victims' need for justice and patient rehabilitation but emphasised that the system was designed to prioritise both.
Victims and their families are allowed to attend hearings in person or online and present submissions, which the tribunal considers when making decisions about leave and release. A Riverina lawyer welcomes a move by the New South Wales Parliament to change verdicts in court cases when a defendant is found to be mentally ill.
While Mr Howard believed the system was robust, he acknowledged there was always room for improvement.
Murder Mental Health Tribunal Day Leave Forensic Facility
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Wendy’s team repairs broken goods, helping to solve a $13 billion problemExperts warn Australia is becoming a dumping ground for up to $13 billion worth of household electrical equipment imported each year. Much of it cannot be easily repaired, if it breaks down. A grassroots movement is working to change that.
Read more »
Poor nations may have to downgrade climate cash demands, ex-UN envoy saysRich country budgets are stretched amid inflation, Covid and Ukraine war, Mary Robinson tells Cop29
Read more »
Robinson turns to NBA great for help in bid to rebuild RoostersWith the Roosters staring at their most challenging season in a decade after losing a host of star players, coach Trent Robinson has gone global in his preparation for 2025.
Read more »
Robinson turns to NBA great for help in bid to rebuild RoostersWith the Roosters staring at their most challenging season in a decade after losing a host of star players, coach Trent Robinson has gone global in his preparation for 2025.
Read more »
Robinson backs Sua’ali’i to make union impact for Australia after code switchThe most successful cross-code rugby player of the modern era was full of praise for Joseph Sua’ali’i, who is in line to feature against England on Saturday
Read more »
Josh Stein beats Mark Robinson in North Carolina governor’s raceDemocrat becomes first Jewish governor in state history after defeating controversial Republican candidate
Read more »