Murderer and rapist Jonathan Bakewell’s parole finally cancelled after five breaches, but victim’s sister says fight is not over

It took three years and six arrests, but this murderous rapist’s parole has finally been cancelled – but his victim’s sister says the fight to keep him jailed isn’t over.

Murderer and rapist Jonathan Bakewell’s parole has finally been cancelled – after his sixth arrest for breaching release conditions – but his victim’s sister says her fight is not over.

Bakewell, who murdered Anne-Marie Culleton in 1988, failed a drug test last Friday and a Parole Board warrant was issued for his arrest.

He was taken into custody and, on Tuesday, the Board formally cancelled his parole and Bakewell resumed serving his life sentence.

On Thursday, Ms Culleton’s sister Eileen welcomed the Board’s decision, which she has been calling for since June 2019.

Jonathan Bakewell being arrested in Alice Springs in the 1980s.

“This is a victory, however it’s a hollow victory because a court will inevitably set a new non-parole period for Bakewell,” she said.

“How long will that be? Two years, three? And once he gets a period set, he can apply for parole every 12 months.

“The fight is not over, not for our family … the women of SA can sleep soundly in their beds tonight, but for how long?”

Bakewell was under the influence of cannabis when he broke into the flat of, raped and murdered Anne-Marie Culleton, and served 28 years before his release in 2016.

In the years since, he has been released four times and breached his parole four times, all by using cannabis.

An alleged fifth breach, in May this year, was the result of an error in drug testing and Bakewell remained on parole.

On Thursday, Eileen Culleton said last week’s breach was once again a result of Bakewell having used cannabis.

She said his case highlighted the need for her proposed legislative reform that would see convicted murderers denied parole if their offending included sexual crimes.

Anne-Marie Culleton. Picture: Supplied by the Culleton family.

Eileen Culleton. Picture: Danielle Smith.

Without it, she said, Bakewell would continue to go in and out of jail – leaving the community at risk.

“This is a man who is entitled and will use the system … he’s unrepentant, he’s without remorse, he does not care what hell he puts families through,” she said.

“It’s all about him, and he will just keep going – but so will I.

“This has taken a toll on me but I’ve had to keep going and I will keep going … I will never stop fighting to keep him behind bars and keep women safe.”

Parole Board chair Frances Nelson QC confirmed Bakewell’s life sentence “has been reinstated”, but that he could still apply in a court for parole.

“The Board remains of the view that Bakewell’s physical condition is deteriorating and, as such, he does not pose a serious risk to the community,” she said.

“However, we cannot condone repeated breaches of parole.”