Sian Kingi killer makes new bid for freedom
The state MP whose electorate Sian Kingi's parents live in has joined the chorus of opposition to the schoolgirl’s rapist and murderer being bailed.
Police & Courts
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State Member for Ninderry Dan Purdie has joined the chorus of protest at the parole bid by Barrie Watts, who abducted, raped and murdered 12-year-old Sian Kingi on the Sunshine Coast in 1987.
Mr Purdie today told Queensland Parliament Sian’s parents had grave concerns for anyone living in a community Watts may be released into.
Mr Purdie said Sian’s murder still haunted locals, the detectives who worked the case, and her parents Barry and Linda, who still lived in the Sunshine Coast electorate.
“News overnight that Barrie Watts has applied for parole sent a shockwave through my community, police and Sian’s family,” he said.
“All – including her parents who I spoke to again this morning – have grave concerns for the persons living in any community in which Barrie Watts may be released into.”
Mr Purdie said that like the judge who sentenced Watts, he believed life in prison should mean just that.
“If Watts is given parole, what precedent would this set? How many others child killers would be released while they still represent an unacceptable risk to the community?” he said.
“We will be having a discussion about Brett Cowan, Daniel Morcombe’s killer, in the years to come.
“(Former police commissioner) Bob Atkinson said last night some offenders lose the right to ever be reintroduced into society...
“Barrie John Watts is one of those offenders.”
Earlier, Bruce and Denise Morcombe added their voices to a group of retired detectives – including former Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson – calling for killer Barrie Watts to never be released.
The Morcombes, whose 13-year-old son Daniel was abducted and murdered in 2003 by another predator, Brett Peter Cowan, have called for Watts to have his parole bid rejected.
In a tweet posted by Denise Morcombe this morning, the couple, who have campaigned for years to keep children safe through the Daniel Morcombe Foundation, say the Queensland Parole Board should not even consider Watts’ release.
“You cannot be serious QLD Parole Board even thinking about letting Barrie Watts out – the child killer!” Mrs Morcombe wrote.
“The Kingi and Morcombe families say NO NOT EVER.”
Former investigators – including past Queensland Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson – have called for the killer to never be released, saying he is beyond rehabilitation.
The sickening killing of 12-year-old Sian on the Sunshine Coast almost 35 years ago shocked Australia.
Sian, who was last seen riding her yellow 10-speed bike home from school in Noosa Heads, was abducted, raped and murdered by Barrie Watts, with the help of his then-wife Valmae Beck, on November 27, 1987.
Beck and Watts were both sentenced to life imprisonment.
Police did not believe Sian’s murder was Watts’ only crime and would charge him in the 1990s with the murder of Helen Mary Feeney, a 31-year-old teaching student and mother who was abducted from a Carseldine college in late 1987.
Her body was never found and Watts, who is now in his late 60s, was acquitted of her murder.
Beck later died in prison and police believe she took the secrets of other crimes to her grave.
Mr Atkinson, who investigated Sian’s murder during his time a detective, said Watts should stay in prison until he dies.
“I am totally opposed to the possible release of Barrie Watts on parole for the murder of Sian Kingi,” he said.
“Having been associated with all aspects of the matter, it is my view he would be an unacceptable community risk.
“The sentencing judge said at the time words to the effect that he should not be released unless he was so old and infirm that he could not be a risk.
“That would not be the case at the present time.
“Surely there are some crimes where in all the circumstances, life imprisonment means just that and the offender forfeits forever the right to re-enter society. If so, this is one such matter.”
Retired detective Neil Magnussen was in charge of the Sunshine Coast criminal investigation branch at the time of Sian’s murder.
“It was a horrific, horrific murder committed on a very, very innocent young girl,” he said.
“(Watts) will never, ever be rehabilitated, ever.
“As far as I’m concerned, he should never be released.”
Mr Magnussen said he had the terrible task of telling Sian’s mother exactly what had happened to her daughter, describing it as one of the worst moments of his career.
“He’s got a thing about young women and girls. He’ll never stop. He’s a danger to the public,” Mr Magnussen said.
Another retired detective, Earl Seymore, said in a statement that he did not want to cause more trauma to those involved in the case, but believed people needed to “speak up for Sian”.
“I am of the firm belief that if Watts is released, he will continue to be a danger to the public,” he said.
“All evidence, including forensic, indicated that Sian was subjected to horrific pain and suffering inflicted by Watts.”
Sunshine Coast MP Dan Purdie, a former child abuse and homicide detective, said the news Watts had made an application for parole had shocked his community.
“It’s raised a lot of emotion with detectives and police who worked on that case a long time ago,” he said.
“There’s potentially never been a more calculated and horrific crime committed.”
A prison officer said Watts was a bit of a “loner” and kept to himself.
Watts had previously worked in the officer’s mess at Wolston jail.
The officer said Watts had moved from secure to residential which is the cushier section of the jail “years ago”.
“He doesn’t speak, he doesn’t say nothing,” the officer said.
“He is an incidental person you wouldn’t know existed if you didn’t know who he was.
“He’s a bit of a loner, low profile. Most of the prisoners in there wouldn’t even know what he is in for.
“You’re going back 30 years, people forget the crimes he did. He doesn’t talk about anything. Keeps to himself.
“He’s residential. He would have been there a good five to seven years.”
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