Attorney-General to argue Douglas Brian Jackway ‘unacceptable risk’ if released

A paedophile convicted of the separate rapes of two young children, and who was once the prime suspect in Daniel Morcombe’s disappearance will make a fresh bid for freedom next week, in a move set to be opposed by the State Government.

Prosecutors for the Attorney-General will argue that a serial child rapist who was once the prime suspect in Daniel Morcombe’s disappearance should remain behind bars due to the “unacceptable risk” he would kidnap another child.

Douglas Brian Jackway, 43, will next week make his seventh bid for freedom after six previous attempts to be released from jail were unsuccessful.

A lawyer for the state today told the Brisbane Supreme Court that the Attorney-General would again be opposing Jackway’s release, saying there was a belief he was still an “unacceptable risk”.

Douglas Brian Jackway has spent all but three months of his adult life in jail. File picture

Barrister Jeffrey Rolls, for the Attorney-General, said at a hearing on Monday next week, two psychiatrists were expected to be called to give evidence about Jackway’s risk of reoffending.

Mr Rolls said one psychiatrist had labelled Jackway a “moderate risk of reoffending” and another would give evidence the risk was “below moderate”.

Jackway has spent all but three months of his adult life behind bars and has a lengthy criminal history, which includes the horrific abduction and rape of a 10-year-old boy and a separate rape of a nine-year-old girl.

At a hearing last year, the court heard Jackway had committed 113 prison violations over the past 15 years but only four in the year to June 2019, which the court noted was a “marked improvement in his behaviour”.

Mr Rolls today said there was evidence that Jackway’s behaviour behind bars had improved.

“… to be fair to Mr Jackway his conduct seems to have settled … there is one or two episodes that are perhaps of concern,” he said.

“It will be the Attorney’s submission … that the risk as articulated is still unacceptable on a supervision order having regard to the nature of the sort of offence that could be committed.”

Justice Peter Davis asked: “Do the doctors say that if an offence is committed it would be a very serious one?”

“Potentially kidnapping a child,” Mr Rolls said.

Jackway was once the prime suspect in the abduction and murder of Sunshine Coast boy Daniel Morcombe.

He’s previously told a court he suffered violence and threats in prison as a result of being linked to the Morcombe case, despite another man Brett Peter Cowan being found guilty of Daniel’s death.

Jackway’s hearing is listed to be heard on Monday.