Bruce Morcombe: ‘Throw away the key’ as Sian Kingi petition reaches 10,000

The father of murdered schoolboy Daniel Morcombe has called for new laws in Queensland to stop the “worst of the worst” killers ever applying for parole.

The father of murdered schoolboy Daniel Morcombe has called for new laws in Queensland to stop the “worst of the worst” killers ever applying for parole.

Bruce Morcombe – whose son Daniel, 13, was murdered by child predator Brett Peter Cowan in 2003 – has supported the grief-stricken parents of Sian Kingi who have started a petition to stop the man who murdered their daughter from getting parole.

Lynda and Barry Kingi yesterday launched the petition calling for the Queensland Parole Board to reject Barrie Watts’s bid for parole, which received more than 10,000 signatures in less than 24 hours.

Sunshine Coast schoolgirl Sian Kingi

Noosa schoolgirl Sian was 12 when she was grabbed by Watts and his wife Valmae Beck on November 27, 1987, as she rode her bike home from the shops.

Her body was found a week later 15km away in bushland. She’d been bound, raped, strangled and stabbed in one of the most horrific crimes in Queensland history.

Watts was sentenced to life in jail, however has now applied for parole.

Bruce Morcombe

Mr Morcombe said he would be signing the petition and urged every Queenslander to do so, adding “life should be life”.

“The worst of the worst – and Barrie Watts is in that category – should never be let out,” Mr Morcombe told The Courier-Mail

“Life is life for those people. They can’t be rehabilitated.”

Barrie Watts

In sentencing Watts to life in jail – the maximum sentence 15 years at the time – Justice Kelly said Watts should never be released.

“In my opinion you should never be released. Life imprisonment is the only sentence for murder and in your case the sentence should mean just that,” he said during sentencing.

Mr Morcombe said Queensland laws should be changed so that child murderers who have a history of reoffending should never be released or have an opportunity to put families through grief while they made parole applications.

Queensland does have Dangerous Prisoners Sexual Offender Act (DPSOA) laws, which can keep prisoners behind bars longer. But Mr Morcombe said court processes still put all involved through suffering.

“I genuinely believe the community expects a standard that the worst of the worst offenders, sentenced to life, serve a life sentence,” Mr Morcombe said.

“What categorises worst of the worst? I would think a child killer would be one that abducts a youngster and murders them.

“It’s premeditated. The worst crime of the worst. So throw away the key, it should be as simple as that.

Barrie Watts is arrested in December 1987.

“They do not deserve another go after what they’ve done.”

Mr Morcombe said he was concerned if Watts was released it could pave the way for other sick child murderers – like his son’s killer Brett Cowan — to be released from jail.

“In August, Cowan will have served 10 years. He was sentenced to life but eligible after 20 years so potentially, he can apply in August in another 10 years.

“The family must come first. These are monsters that prey on little kids.”

Police and Corrections Minister Mark Ryan yesterday said the schoolgirl’s death was one of the most sickening and shocking crimes ever committed in Queensland.

“Investigators, including former Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson who brought this evil monster to justice, say he should never be released,” he said.

“I understand Bruce Morcombe’s strong feelings on this matter and I know his views are shared by many others.

“That’s why I can assure Bruce, Denise and all Queenslanders that this government will be relentless in doing all we can to keep the community safe and keep these murderers behind bars.”

Sign For Sian petition