Murderous rapist Jonathan Peter Bakewell granted parole for a sixth time despite drug breaches, victim’s sister blames SA premier

This murderous rapist who keeps abusing drugs has been paroled yet again, and his victim’s sister says the Premier “didn’t have the appetite” to stop him.

A rapist murderer who has breached parole five times, and tested positive for drugs 14 times, is free once again – and the victim’s family say Premier Peter Malinauskas is to blame.

Jonathan Peter Bakewell, who murdered Anne-Marie Culleton in 1988 while affected by cannabis, has been granted parole for the sixth time.

Bakewell has been in and out of prison since 2019, each time breaching his parole through cannabis use.

A social media image of murderous rapist and parolee Jonathan Peter Bakewell.

Anne-Marie Culleton was raped and murdered by Bakewell in 1988. Picture: Supplied by the Culleton family.

The decision has outraged Anne-Marie’s sister, Eileen Culleton, who has been campaigning to bring SA’s parole rules on sexually violent offenders into line with the rest of the country.

“I met with Mr Malinauskas in June and begged him to ensure prisoners who had murdered with rape, stalking or sadism would not be released on parole,” she said.

“The reform was based on similar legislation around the country that had bipartisan support and has been upheld by the High Court.

“He promised they would look into it … later, I was informed that ‘they didn’t have the appetite’ … I am outraged at the laziness, spinelessness and hypocrisy of this stance.

“Mr Malinauskas talks about wanting to reduce the murders of women yet, when he has the opportunity to do so, he refuses to lift a finger.”

Eileen Culleton.

In a statement, a government spokeswoman said it “extends its sympathies to Ms Culleton and her family”.

“They have experienced a trauma very few are exposed to, and no one should have to deal with,” she said.

“The government met with Ms Culleton to speak with her about her concerns surrounding this case.

“The Parole Board is an independent statutory authority who make parole decisions at its sole discretion … these decisions are rightly independent of politicians.

“Each parole matter is carefully considered by the Parole Board … the law requires that the Board’s paramount consideration must be the safety of the community in all parole decisions.”