Woman involved in violent manslaughter of Michelle Meades released on parole
A woman at the centre of the violent death of Michelle Meades has been released from prison on parole. But mystery still remains about who struck the final blow.
Tasmania
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A WOMAN at the centre of the violent death of “sweet, kind, caring” woman Michelle Meades has been released from jail on parole after serving five-and-a-half years.
Kylie Jane Hack, now aged about 39, was convicted of the manslaughter of Ms Meades, who was found deceased and tied up with rope in the closet of a burnt-out Clarendon Vale unit after a drug deal in 2016.
Ms Meades had been stabbed 20 times in the neck with nail scissors and hit over the head with a golf club, dying of blunt force head injuries, gagging and stab wounds to the jugular vein.
While Hack was the only person charged with causing Ms Meade’s death, two men at the scene – Gary Matthews and Danny Graham – also faced accessory charges.
It was noted by the sentencing judge that it had not been Hack’s decision to initiate the assault, with one of the men accusing Ms Meades of complaining to others she’d been “ripped off” by them in drug deals.
Graham served three years and nine months, while the charges against Mr Matthews were dropped.
Hack was initially charged with murder and failing to report a killing of a person and arson, but ultimately pleaded guilty to the crimes of manslaughter, perverting justice and stealing Ms Meades’ handbag, using her debit cards.
She was jailed for a maximum of eight-and-a-half years, but as of this year, has completed her non-parole period.
In its recently-published decision, the Parole Board of Tasmania said Hack had been sentenced on the basis it wasn’t her intention to kill Ms Meades, and that she’d become disturbed during the attack, locking herself in the bathroom while Ms Meades was killed.
However, she didn’t respond to Ms Meades’ calls for help and subsequently stole her debit cards.
The board said Hack had previously struggled while under supervision in community orders in the past, but had more recently served her sentence compliantly under minimum security classification.
Hack was working as a senior hand in grounds maintenance at the Mary Hutchinson Women’s Prison, with her last breach of the rules in October 2021 for allegedly trafficking with another prisoner.
A psychologist said Hack’s impulsive and aggressive behaviour remained a risk upon her return into society.
The board, noting the “horror of the hours” that Ms Meades must have “spent in pain and fear before her death”, recognised Hack was now drug-free and working on self-improvement.
Hack was paroled as of June 20 this year, with her parole decision now publicly published.
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Originally published as Woman involved in violent manslaughter of Michelle Meades released on parole
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