NSW: Lethwaite slams NSW govt over parole opposition

AAP General News (Australia)
12-06-2006
NSW: Lethwaite slams NSW govt over parole opposition

By Simon Kirby

SYDNEY, Dec 6 AAP - Convicted child killer John Lewthwaite has accused the NSW government
of using pre-election politics to derail his chances of parole and being involved in new
charges laid against him.

Premier Morris Iemma today shrugged off the claims as "preposterous", but made no apology
for opposing any move to grant parole to Lewthwaite.

Last week police charged the 51-year-old with exposing himself to two women in Sydney's
south in January of this year.

He remains in custody after his life-long parole was revoked in September amid a public
outcry over a separate exposure charge at a southern Sydney beach, of which he was eventually
convicted and fined $1,000.

The State Parole Authority (SPA) is due to consider Lewthwaite's parole at a hearing this Friday.

In an open letter dated yesterday, published on the website of the NSW Council for
Civil Liberties (NSWCCL), Lewthwaite wrote: "My friends and my lawyer believe that this
action by police is deliberate, not because they believe I am guilty of the offence, but
as a way of keeping me in jail.

"They also think there has been political interference to keep me behind bars until
after the March election.

"Certainly the timing of this charge is very suspicious."

Mr Iemma took issue with Lewthwaite's accusations today.

"The charge has been levelled that there has been political interference - well that
is just absurd," the premier told reporters.

"There has been no interference in the court process and there will not be any."

NSWCCL President Cameron Murphy would not be drawn on whether the council supported
Lewthwaite's claims.

But he did criticise both media coverage of the story and any politicians who sought
to take advantage of inflamed public opinion.

"Certain sections of the media have portrayed the story in a certain light while politicians
and other community members have made comments that have not necessarily been appropriate
and may prejudice Mr Lewthwaite's parole hearing," Mr Murphy said.

"We believe everyone should take a step back and let the criminal justice system run
its course without interference."

In his letter, Lewthwaite wrote the latest charges were "absurd" as he was a gay man
who had never had any sexual interest in women.

The women may have recognised him from media coverage of the earlier charge, he wrote.

Lewthwaite stated he understood that he could never be forgiven for the 1974 stabbing
murder of five-year-old Nicole Hanns.

But he pointed out he had lived in anonymity for seven years since his 1999 release,
proving he was no longer a danger.

"Our justice system believes in rehabilitation and the chance of a new life (and) ...

should be allowed to work without interference," his letter said.

Comment is being sought from the SPA.

AAP sk/hn/imc/bwl

KEYWORD: LEWTHWAITE NIGHTLEAD

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