Serial killer Reginald Kenneth Arthurell’s day release approved by authorities, with Corrections Minister’s backing

UPDATE: Convicted killer Reginald Kenneth Arthurell — who police say is as evil as Ivan Milat — has been approved for day release, but has been refused parole during a private meeting today.

• A TRAIL OF BODIES WHEREVER THEY WENT

ONE of Australia’s most evil serial killers has been approved for day ­release by prison authorities, but a bid for permanent freedom has been refused by the NSW State Parole Authority today.

Reginald Kenneth Arthurell was convicted of the bashing murder of Venet Mulhall, whose care he was released into, in 1995 while he was on parole for the manslaughter of his stepfather.

The decision by the State Parole Authority made at a private meeting today, refused parole on the grounds the offender presents as an unacceptable risk to the community and had not participated in the required external leave programs.

The Serious Offenders Review Council also advised that Arthurell’s release was not appropriate.

EDITORIAL: DAY RELEASE IS JUST A SLAP IN THE FACE

Serial killer Reginald Kenneth Arthurell has been approved for day release.

Arthurell, 68, had previously served four years for the manslaughter of a teenage naval officer at Tennant Creek in 1981.

He is also the prime suspect in the murders of at least four other ­people, but which he has never been charged with.

Corrections NSW has approved day leave for Arthurell following recommendations from the NSW Serious Offenders Review Council to allow him back on the streets as part of his rep-release program.

“I can’t believe anyone would consider letting him out ever again,’’ a close relative of Mrs Mulhall said.

“But we received a letter on ­Tuesday saying he had been reclassified and was eligible for day release in the future. No one told me he had a parole hearing today until I rang ­yesterday.”

Arthurell murdered devoted Christian Venet Mulhall in her Coonabarabran home in 1995.

A visitor to prisoners in jail, she agreed to let him stay with her so he could be paroled.

In 1997 Arthurell was sentenced to 24 years’ jail for the murder of his sponsor Venet Mulhall, who he bashed to death in her Coonabarabran home two years earlier.

A devoted Christian, Mrs Mulhall met her killer while visiting prisoners in jail and had taken Arthurell into her home so that he could be released on parole.

“It is like a recurring nightmare,” the relative said.

“To obtain day leave an offender needs a sponsor. The last person to sponsor him on day leave was Venet Mulhall, whom he later murdered.  

Arthurell was named as a suspect in the death of Catherine Page who was found bashed to death in Coonamble, NSW, in 1971. DNA testing on Arthurell was inconclusive.

“How many people will the ­authorities allow him to kill? Are three killings not enough to keep him in prison?’’

Arthurell, who is not due to be ­released until 2021, was refused parole two years ago after Mrs Mulhall’s relatives made detailed submissions against his release.

“A review has been completed and the offender’s classification has been reduced,’’ the letter from the review council said. “He is now eligible for prerelease leave but can only participate in day release.’’

A spokeswoman for the SORC yesterday confirmed the council had recommended Arthurell participate in the day leave in preparation for the end of his 24-year sentence in 2021.

“Corrective Services NSW approved Arthurell day leave for three occasions only, with the additional restriction that he be escorted by a high-ranking officer and wear an electronic monitoring bracelet,” she said.

“Any requests for additional day leave would need to be considered by the Commissioner.”

Karen Edwards, Tim Thompson and Gordon Twaddle were all found shot dead Mt Isa in October 1978.

Tim Thompson.

Gordon Twaddle.

Minister for Corrections David ­Elliott last night said the move was aimed at helping Arthurell “reintegrate” into the community.

“Arthurell’s crimes were horrific and it sickens me to think that his sentence will one day expire and he will be released from prison,” he said.

“This reinforces our obligation to ensure that he can safely reintegrate into the community when that day comes.”

In 1974 Arthurell, originally from Sydney, stabbed his stepfather to death after a drunken argument.

After the killing he drifted around the country using more than 200 aliases, including Tex.

In 1981 he was charged with killing a naval officer, Ross Browning, 19, in the Northern Territory town of Tennant Creek when he and another man bashed him with a piece of anthill during a robbery. He was extradited to NSW in 1988 and sentenced to 11 years’ jail for his stepfather’s killing.

Amazingly, he was released just three years later into the care of Mrs Mulhall. He breached parole by passing fraudulent checks and was back on the run.

Arthurell leaves court in Dubbo after fronting for the murder of Venet Mulhall.

In early 1995 he returned back to the western NSW town and by February of that year had bashed his benefactor to death.

While convicted of killing three people, Arthurell is also the prime suspect in at least four other murders.

Police are convinced he is responsible for the murder of Catherine Page, 82, who was bludgeoned to death in her Coonamble home, in the state’s northwest, in 1971.

Then in 1978 Queensland police wanted to question him over the “Wolf Creek-style” shooting deaths of Karen Edwards, Timothy Thomson and Gordon Twaddle near Mt Isa.

Former constable Ray Webber, who hunted Arthurell over the bashing murder of Mrs Page, yesterday warned he was a serial killer as bad as backpacker killer Ivan Milat.

“I don’t believe he should get out of jail, ever. No way,” Mr Webber said.

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