DV Qld: Family unaware their daughter’s murderer was freed

The family of a Queensland domestic violence murder victim have demanded change after not being informed of her killer’s release.

Shelley Alison is still haunted by the murder of her daughter Haley. Picture: Steve Pohlner

A man who strangled and stabbed his wife to death before burning her body has been released without her family being notified.

Now the grieving loves ones of Haley Allison are demanding the Queensland Parole Board prioritise victims.

Ms Allison was murdered by Jason Michael Spina at her parents’ Caboolture home in 2009.

He was sentenced to life in jail, but last month was released on parole after serving 15 years.

Ms Allison’s mother Shelley Allison said she and her family were never told by the Parole Board, instead finding out “through the grapevine” that he was back in town.

“(He applied for parole around) the day he killed her 15 years ago, and they didn’t tell me,” Mrs Allison said.

“I could have been at the shop and I could have run into him.”

Mrs Allison said she began to hear rumours of Spina’s release, and contacted the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in February.

The ODPP said the office had not been notified of any parole applications by Spina at the time, however Mrs Allison did not know she needed to contact the Parole Board.

Corrective Services Minister Laura Gerber

She said the situation came about because a Queensland government victims register for adult offenders, which was established five years after her daughter’s death, required victims to sign up if they wanted to be kept updated on a prisoner — a system she said she was never prompted to engage with.

Speaking for the first time since her daughter’s death, Mrs Allison told The Courier-Mail she was living a nightmare and that victims should not have to register to be informed.

Mrs Allison said it was a kick in the guts for families and victims of domestic violence murders.

“I don’t understand how they just made this decision,” she said.

“I have never felt this bad since (Haley’s death).”

According to Supreme Court appeal documents, Ms Allison’s body had bruises around her neck and 10 stab wounds, some of which penetrated through her body, and her torso, chest, stomach and left hand were burnt.

“We’ve had nightmares with my husband and my son ever since it happened, but the nightmares last week... (my husband, Haley’s father) can smell burning flesh... this is what we’re dealing with,” Mrs Allison said.

“I was screaming twice in one night.”

Corrective Services Minister Laura Gerber said what Ms Allison’s family had gone through was completely unacceptable, and the Parole Board’s contact with victims and families would form part of an independent review the LNP government had announced in December.

“All interactions the Parole Board has with victims as part of the board’s functions will be looked at in the review,” Ms Gerber said.

“Under Labor, the Parole Board was left in a state of instability, without the laws and leadership needed to protect victims and our community.”

New “adult crime, adult time” legislation will also see a change to the youth equivalent of the victim register.

Under reforms later this year, there will no longer be a requirement for direct victims and immediate family members of deceased victims to apply to be placed on the Victim Eligible Persons Register.

Instead of applying to opt in, victims are now automatically included and can apply to opt out if preferred.

A spokeswoman for Queensland Corrective Services said they were committed to ensuring victims of crime were supported and had a voice through the victim register.

“All eligible people are strongly encouraged to register to ensure they are provided with this information,” she said.

Originally published as DV Qld: Family unaware their daughter’s murderer was freed