Twist revealed in Tim Pullen killer’s release

Shock emails have exposed new information about the release of a man convicted over the 2012 manslaughter.

Timothy Pullen's mum Leanne (pictured with Tim) has welcomed a court's decision that will see her boy's killer will stay behind bars. Contributed

SHOCK emails have exposed that the decision to release a convicted Central Queensland killer on parole may have been made within minutes.

Benjamin Francis Graeme Oakley was one of six people jailed over the brutal abduction and death of Mackay man Timothy Pullen in April 2012.

Oakley was jailed for manslaughter and later granted parole months before his actual eligibility date - a controversial decision withheld from his parents at the very time they were advocating the "No Body No Parole" laws for which they had fought.

Tim Pullen's parents, Gary and Leanne Pullen, have pleaded for anyone who may know where their son's body was dumped in 2012 to contact police, anonymously if necessary.

Mr Pullen, 34, was violently snatched from a North Mackay unit, his body stored in a nightclub cold room before being dumped in remote bushland near Collinsville. His remains have never been found.

Initially facing a murder trial, Oakley offered to plead guilty to manslaughter on the basis he agreed to participate in the abduction. He was jailed for eight years with parole eligibility on November 11, 2017.

Government emails obtained via RTI by former public servant Paul Turner revealed Oakley's parole application was one of 42 matters considered by the then-newly formed Parole Board Queensland during the July 26, 2017 meeting, which lasted three hours and 45 minutes in total.

"It seems glaringly obvious that they did not really consider Tim or our family with granting parole," mother Leanne Pullen said.

The newly released emails also showed that Queensland Corrective Services had initially planned to inform Mr Pullen's mother, Leanne Pullen, of the release on August 1, which was then delayed until August 10.

The No Body, No Parole laws came into effect on August 25, 2017.

 

Mackay man Timothy Pullen was killed in 2012 over a $7000 drug debt. His heartbroken family accepted a manslaughter plea in exchange for the killers taking police to where they left his body. But Timothy's body was not there and they are still desperate to find him. Images from Facebook

 

QCS staff tried to phone Mrs Pullen on August 10, but were unable to talk to her because she was being interviewed about the new legislation and planned to call back 30 minutes later.

The emails also noted the decision was "likely to generate negative media attention" and specifically referenced public fallout following parole for co-accused Luke Shayne Kister, who was released in late July 2017.

The emails also show Parole Board president Michael Byrne QC requested "no notification until he has reviewed the decision regarding prisoner Oakley".

Oakley was released on parole on November 13, 2017.

"Perhaps Kister and Oakley met some of the Parole Board's criteria, but the most significant factor seemed to be overlooked - that neither had disclosed where Tim's remains were," Mrs Pullen said.

"Even though the No Body, No Parole legislation wasn't involved at that stage, surely they should have been questioned over where Tim's body was before being released from prison.

Gary and Leanne Pullen said they were devastated Ben Oakley, one of the men convicted of killing their son Tim Pullen in 2012, has been released from prison on parole. Tim's remains have still not been found.

"Had Kister and Oakley not been granted parole until after the new legislation commenced, perhaps our family wouldn't still be living this nightmare - where is Tim?"

Mr Turner said Parole Board Queensland has since done a good job in refusing parole for co-offenders Stephen Renwick and Zane Lincoln, "but the damage had already been done".

"The Kister decision was particularly distressing because he was one of the men who dumped Tim's body, so it's no wonder the Pullens were devastated," he said.

"In Oakley's case, why would the board grant a convicted killer's application just weeks before the No Body, No Parole laws and more than three months before he was even eligible for release?

"Any why was victim notification delayed… why couldn't the Pullens be told the simple truth, that Oakley's parole application had been granted but was being reviewed?"

A Parole Board Queensland spokesman said the board was "a vital part of the criminal justice system".

"As an independent statutory authority, the board operates to ensure lawful, objective, evidence-based and transparent parole decisions are made. The board does not comment on parole decisions or the reasons for decisions," the spokesman said.

"The Parole Board Queensland considers all of the material before it, including submissions made by victims and their families, and makes decisions based on the evidence in accordance with the legislation and ministerial guidelines."

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