Australia: Savage killer free on parole

One of Tasmania's "most violent and horrific" murderers and rapists was released from prison yesterday -- having spent his entire adult life to date behind bars. Frankie Lyle Curtis, 37, was 16 when and he and his older brother Jamie John Curtis went on a drunken crime spree in February 1986.

They abducted a 15-year-old delivery girl, who escaped from the boot of their car before they could rape her. The brothers then returned home to Glenorchy and burst into the next-door flat and bashed 22-year-old neighbour Dean Allie. They sexually abused his fiance in what the trial judge described as "the most degrading way". The younger Curtis subdued Mr Allie, while his brother "had his way" with the girl. They then drove the pair to Gretna and stabbed and killed Mr Allie, who had been bashed and kicked until he was "incapacitated". They dragged his body into the bush, released his fiance from the car boot and continued their "cruel mistreatment".

Yesterday the delivery girl, who still lives in Tasmania, said: "I and the other victims would like the last 20 years back." She said she doubted her would-be rapist's remorse and had unsuccessfully tried to visit him in jail more than once to ask "why?".

Curtis was originally given a life sentence in June 1986 after being found guilty of murder, forcible abduction, aggravated burglary, four counts of causing grievous bodily harm, 10 counts of assault, two counts of indecent assault and three counts of rape. However, in 1996, he was resentenced to 30 years and became eligible for parole in early 2004. Last year the Parole Board granted him parole, noting he "appeared remorseful" and had voluntarily enrolled in a sex offender treatment program. It also cited a psychiatric opinion, noting Curtis's "very low" risk of re-offending.

Under his parole, Mr Curtis must remain alcohol and drug free, not approach his victims or their families and not enter licensed premises or the Glenorchy area. He must also attend counselling. In 1996 Justice Ewan Crawford referred to Curtis, who has been assessed as being of borderline mental capacity, as "a danger to society". He said his conduct, carried out after a night of drinking and watching violent horror films, was "the most violent and horrific I have had to deal with". Justice Crawford said Curtis had been influenced by his much older brother -- described as a brain-damaged psychopath. But he had been a "willing and active participant" and "played a major role in the brutal bashing, kicking and otherwise cruelly treating Mr Allie".

Report here



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