Nuriootpa siege gunman Tony Grosser free after more than two decades in jail

NURIOOTPA siege gunman Tony Douglas Grosser is experiencing his first day as a free man in 22 years after he was released from Yatala Labour Prison.

Alleged Nuriootpa siege gunman Tony Grosser. SA shooting p/

NURIOOTPA siege gunman Tony Douglas Grosser is experiencing his first day as a free man in 22 years after he was released from Yatala Labour Prison.

Grosser, who fired more than 2500 rounds of ammunition at police during the 40-hour siege, left the prison in the back of a car about 7am on Monday.

His release, however, is subject to monitoring conditions which ban him from contacting victims of his 1994 siege in which he shot a STAR Group officer 14 times.

He is also being electronically tracked.

The strict conditions are the first time the newly-enacted High Risk Offenders Act has been used on a convicted violent criminal.

While Grosser’s lawyer last week told the court his client was no longer a danger to the community and ‘disavows all forms of violence”, Justice Stanley found there was good reason to use the new laws — for the time being at least.

Justice Stanley will await medical reports on Grosser’s mental state and further information from SA Police and the Parole Board before hearing submissions on whether the order remained permanently against the gunman.

The siege ended when Grosser was shot in the head and he was convicted of attempted murder and five counts of endangering life.

The convictions were quashed on appeal.

Grosser was again found guilty after a second trial.

The Supreme Court last week heard Grosser had been diagnosed as suffering from a delusional disorder or a paranoid personality disorder.

He maintained his life would be in danger from corrupt police or the mafia upon his release.

Grosser was previously rejected for parole because the Parole Board ruled him a continuing danger.

Under previous laws he would have been let free with no conditions.

If Grosser breaches the conditions, he can be again locked up.