Childers backpacker killer Robert Paul Long still awaiting parole decision
The man who lit the fire that killed 15 backpackers at Childers has applied for parole, but the decision is taking longer than usual amid pleas from victims’ families.
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Childers backpacker killer Robert Paul Long remains in jail, with his parole application still undecided.
Long was jailed for 20 years after the horrific fire that killed 15 backpackers in June 2000. He has been eligible for parole for months.
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The convicted killer, now aged 57, applied for parole over 120 days ago. The board usually makes decisions within the 120-day time frame.
Survivors of the horrific fire and former Isis Shire mayor Bill Trevor handed the parole board more than 30 letters and a petition with over 17,000 signatures earlier this year in a bid to stop Long‘s release.
Long was charged with arson and two counts of murder of twins Kelly and Stacey Slarke but not over the 13 other deaths.
Families and survivors have called for Long to face further murder charges, however this has been ruled out by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Survivor Richard Tempest said he hoped the parole board was seriously considering not releasing Long.
“If, God forbid, the decision is made that he is released and back into society surely the huge consideration has got to be has he rehabilitated?” he said.
“Is he a better person from 20 years ago?
“From what we now know and from what we’ve been told – especially from his prison conduct – he isn’t. Absolutely no way is he rehabilitated.
“He’s not fit or mentally stable to be put back into society, walking down the street, ultimately past you and I.”
The Sunday Mail previously revealed Long was a geriatric carer for prisoners in the residential section of Wolston jail near Brisbane.
A former prisoner said Long was a “snaky little bastard” who stood over other prisoners.
Queensland Law Society immediate past president Bill Potts said it was better for the community that the parole board gave a thorough consideration of the matter which could include if a prisoner could still be a danger to the community, what steps they had taken to reform, their behaviour in jail and psychiatric and psychological reports.
“Where there is offences of violence and significant death the parole board has to take into account the heinous nature of the crime, the degree of suffering, harm to community, views of the people who were most affected by the crime – the loved ones, the survivors, the townspeople of Childers – but not one factor is determinative,” he said.