Parole decision on man who raped and murdered Lauren Hickson to be made on June 29
NEVILLE Towner, jailed for life over the rape and murder of four-year-old Sydney girl Lauren Hickson in 1989, has today had his bid for freedom put back until later this month.
NSW
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JURINA Hickson last saw her 4-year-old daughter as she peddled down the street on her bicycle, dressed in a pink windcheater, jeans and gumboots.
She warned her not to play too far away from the house and Lauren called back, “Yes Mummy”.
It was just after lunch on May 17, 1989, and satisfied her daughter was safe, Ms Hickson sat down to watch Days of Our Lives inside her Emu Plains home in Sydney’s western suburbs.
Lauren probably felt safe when she bumped into family friend Neville Raymond Towner as she was riding a pink bicycle she had been given for Christmas.
He had known her since she was a baby and his mother had babysat her several times.
Towner has admitted he spotted Lauren playing in an Emu Plains park and that he gave her “a cuddle” before walking down to a small creek near the Nepean River.
It was there he attacked Lauren, sexually assaulted her and hit her over the head with a rock. To stifle her screams he forced her head under the water.
Today - The State Parole Authority said it would announce its decision on whether to grant Towner parole on June 29.
Outside of court Ms Hickson said he did not think Towner should be released and said” a leopard never changes its spots”.
“I don’t want him coming after my family again, I don’t want him to come after anybody - he’s a ticking time bomb”.
SPECIAL REPORT: A VILE CRIME THAT SHOCKED SYDNEY
During today’s brief hearing, the state’s lawyer argued Towner should not be released until the issue of his “night terrors had been addressed”.
“The state would suggest that the issue about the night terrors, the distressing dreams etc - that is still a not insignificant matter which remains still somewhat unexplained,” Brett Thomson said.
Mr Thomson also raised concerns about a psychological report written last year which stated Towner had feelings of “rejection and strong feelings of jealousy” which “ may lead him to seeking out sex to gain control”.
Mr Towner’s lawyer said her client’s sleep issues were no reason for him not to be released.
“The psychologist raises no real concern in relation to the sleep disturbance in relation to risk to the community.”
“GRAVE CONCERNS FOR THE COMMUNITY”
The police officer responsible for Towner’s arrest - former Detective Sergeant Warick Laney - has previously told The Daily Telegraph that he held grave fears if Towner was ever released from jail.
“I certainly have grave concerns about his release from prison. I personally think he is a risk to the community. He is cunning and will say whatever he needs to say to get himself out of jail,” said Mr Laney.
Mr Laney recalls when Towner confessed the day after the murder on May 18, 1989.
“She started screaming and to shut her up I shoved her head in the water and umm when she came up she looked to me as if she had already gone. But she started breathing so I grabbed a rock and hit her with it,” Towner told Laney.
In 1992, Towner was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole, but a judge subsequently amended his sentence allowing for him to be eligible for parole after 20 years. He became eligible in 2009.
THE DAY OF THE MURDER, MAY 17, 1989
Ms Hickson has previously spoken publicly about the time she realised he daughter was missing.
“When the show finished I went outside to look for Lauren,” Ms Hickson said.
“She wasn’t at her friend’s house so I asked one of the neighbours to help me find her.
“I wasn’t worried at this stage because Lauren was an intelligent girl and she didn’t speak to anyone she didn’t know. She also knew she wasn’t allowed to play past the back fence.”
She also recalled how Towner - her husband’s workmate - had dropped past their house to return a bicycle he had borrowed.
But Ms Hickson thought nothing of it and as the sun started to go down, the frantic search for Lauren escalated.
She called the police at 5pm to report a missing child.
The next morning a massive search was launched, involving more than 100 police, soldiers and members of the State Emergency Services.
A helicopter had located some of Lauren’s clothing stuck in a tree.
About 9.50am, Lauren’s body was found face down in the creek, about 30 metres from where her clothing had been found.
Forensic examinations revealed Lauren suffered extensive bruising to her face and neck, debris in her lungs, blood in her stomach, a 2.5cm tear to her vagina and a fractured skull.
She had a 57mm cut on her forehead which had penetrated to the bone.
Lauren’s mum collapsed in shock when she was told Lauren’s body had been found.
She blamed herself for daughter’s death.
“If only I had kept her in she would still be alive. There were times when I didn’t want to go on,” says Jurina. “I thought I was better off dead just so I could be with her.”