The South Australian government is launching a legal bid against Snowtown serial killing accomplice Mark Haydon, claiming he is still “dysfunctional and dangerous”.
In less than three months when that period ends, he will be a free man with all restrictions gone.
The parole board said Haydon was a low risk, but the government has argued he must be kept under watch for the safety of the public.
“Both the victim’s families and the public need to know that their safety is paramount,” victims’ advocate Michael O’Connell said.
The government wants Haydon declared a high-risk offender.
Documents have revealed it will ask the Supreme Court to put the 65-year-old under extended supervision for up to five years and enforce an interim order to keep tabs on him before that kicks in.
There is also a request for a rigorous risk assessment by at least one health professional to determine the likelihood of him reoffending.
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“There has to be two reports because we know there’s a great deal of variation,” O’Connell said.
Haydon covered up seven of the 11 bodies in the barrels killings after more than two decades behind bars there are concerns he could still pose a risk if unsupervised.
The government argues Haydon has a “dysfunctional personality” and at the time of the crimes failed to end his criminal involvement when given the opportunity.
It also raised concerns that he hasn’t undergone any rehabilitation programs in prison.
A decision was taken because he was previously assessed as being a low risk of violent offending.
“The public at large would be dumbfounded, one of the principal reasons we send people to prison is to rehabilitate them, that is incomprehensible,” O’Connell said.
