Sex predator and kidnapper Colin Charles Humphrys seeks prison release and address kept secret
A COURT is poised to decide whether one of the worst sexual predators in SA history will be released — and whether the public will be allowed to know where he will be living.
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- Notorious sex predator Colin Charles Humphys jailed for life
- Let me out: vile predator Humphrys seeks release from prison
A COURT is poised to decide whether one of the worst sexual predators in SA history will be released — and whether the public will be allowed to know where he will be living.
Colin Charles Humphrys is seeking to end his indefinite detention for the persistent sexual abuse of a boy — which began just 30 minutes after the duo first met.
The perverted kidnapper also wants a secrecy order placed on his proposed residential address, fearing he will suffer violence and reprisals if it is publicly known.
On Wednesday, Supreme Court Justice Trish Kelly said that request was “a vexed issue” — and gave The Advertiser permission to challenge it at a hearing next week.
“It seems to be that there are some competing public interests at stake here,” she said.
“It’s a live issue, both in relation to the safety of the person released and the safety of the community, knowing who they will be living next door to.
“There’s also the safety of the community at large (to consider).”
Humphrys, 66, has a history of child sex offending dating back decades and is infamous for his crimes against a boy, known only as XX, between April 1990 and July 1991.
After he was introduced to the nine-year-old by fellow paedophile Laurie O’Shea, he kidnapped the boy, took him to King’s Cross in Sydney and repeatedly abused him.
He served an eight-year jail term for that crime.
In 2009, Humphrys received a 19-year prison term for the persistent abuse of a boy, 14, that began 30 minutes after their first meeting and continued for the next three years.
Then-Justice John Sulan refused to set a non-parole period, deeming Humphrys an “opportunistic, calculated” and uncontrollable sexual predator.
In May 2014, The Advertiser revealed Humphrys had filed papers seeking a non-parole period, claiming he had learned to reign in his sexual instincts and could be safely released.
On Wednesday, prosecutor Kathryn Hodder told the court both her office and the Parole Board opposed Humphrys’ release, under any conditions.
That opposition, she said, was based on the risk Humphrys continued to pose to the public, regardless of his promise to undergo counselling and take anti-libidinal medication.
Peter Morrison, for Humphyrs, said his client maintained he was fit for release and asked both the application and the suppression order be granted.
Justice Kelly said she would determine the matter next week — but only after hearing further submissions about the secrecy bid.
“Do we know what has happened in other cases? Has the court made an order of this nature in relation to other offenders who’ve been released?” she asked.
“If it’s not happened in SA, there must be interstate (cases) where this issue has come to a head.”
She ordered prosecution and defence file written submissions by Monday, in order for The Advertiser to read them and respond at a hearing on Tuesday.
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