Serial SA paedophile Mark Trevor Marshall has been disciplined over material in his cell once before
PAEDOPHILE Mark Trevor Marshall, who is facing possible release, has previously been disciplined over child pornography found in his cell.
AN IMPRISONED paedophile allegedly found in possession of children’s names and photographs has previously been disciplined over material found in his cell.
Last night, advertiser.com.au reported a search of Mark Trevor Marshall’s cell had uncovered photographs and names of children, as well as maps of suburbs.
The alleged discovery is now the subject of a joint investigation by SA Police and the Department for Correctional Services.
However, it’s not the first time Marshall, 44, has been accused of having illicit, unauthorised material in his B-Division cell at Yatala Labour Prison.
In December 2011, it was reported a search of Marshall’s cell uncovered items including CDs containing images of child pornography.
Though Marshall has appeared in the Supreme Court numerous times since then, seeking release into the community on licence, no further mention has been made of that discovery.
Today, a Department spokesman said the 2011 incident had been the subject of an internal investigation.
“There were no criminal charges laid, as there was no criminality disclosed in relation to the prisoner’s actions,” he said.
“The prisoner was internally disciplined.
“His access to the education room and its computers was withdrawn as a result, and he was immediately separated from the general population and moved to G-Division.”
The investigation into the new allegations is ongoing.
Since 2011, the Supreme Court has been considering the conditions under which Marshall can be released into the community on licence.
Marshall’s history of sex offending dates back to June 1987 and he has been jailed since 2009, when he was declared unwilling to control his urges.
DAVID PENBERTHY: Marshall should stay behind bars
In 2011 the Supreme Court ordered he be released on licence but the Parole Board objected, saying 34 proposed residences were too close to schools and childcare centres.
In February last year, the court heard a taxpayer-funded team of eight public servants was working to find a safe home for Marshall.
In August, The Advertiser reported police concerns that Marshall had a “consistent” and “disturbing” lack of insight into his prior offending and the danger he poses.
That story was published after Office of the Director of Public Prosecutors requested it be deleted from The Advertiser’s website, wrongly claiming the concerns had been raised in a closed-court hearing.
In November, Marshall’s two psychiatrists warned a poor public reaction to his release could cause him to regress to the same “vulnerable” state that had preceded his prior offending.
They said the potential risk Marshall posed to the community was “acceptable” and “as good as it’s going to get”, and warned his release must happen “now or never”.
In December, the court heard legislative changes had made public safety the most important factor in determining whether Marshall should be released.
A month later, lawyers for Commissioner for Victims’ Rights Michael O’Connell said that, if released, Marshall’s address should be made public to enhance public safety.
Attorney-General John Rau subsequently announced he would personally intervene in the case in support of the changed law, and the legal test that must be applied to define community safety.
Last month, the court heard the result of the State Election may affect whether that intervention went ahead.
However, Opposition legal affairs spokesman Stephen Wade told The Advertiser a Liberal Government would instruct solicitors “to appear in court in support of community safety”.
Marshall is due to face court again on April 1.