Knife-violence perpetrator Kieran Scott Mitchell declared High Risk Offender by Supreme Court
A young Risdon Prison inmate with a long history of knife-related violence, and who once set his prison cell alight in protest over lockdown conditions, has been declared a High Risk Offender.
Tasmania
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A young Risdon Prison inmate with a long history of knife-related violence, and who once set his prison cell alight in protest over lockdown conditions, has been declared a High Risk Offender by a Supreme Court judge.
Kieran Scott Mitchell, 22, appeared before Justice Stephen Estcourt on Thursday for a hearing into an application brought by the State of Tasmania under the Dangerous Criminals and High Risk Offenders Act.
The legislation, introduced four years ago, allows for the post-release supervision of serious violence offenders who do not meet the threshold for being declared a dangerous criminal.
In March 2021, Mitchell was jailed for a period of two years and nine months after pleading guilty to wounding, after arming himself with a knife stabbing a former schoolmate on a busy road in Launceston.
The sentencing judge said the attack had caused significant injuries to the victim and had taken place in full view of numerous members of the public.
Mitchell was back in court later the same year, receiving more jail time after admitting to unlawfully setting fire to property in Risdon medium-security wing.
The court heard that the defendant had ignited a roll of toilet paper inside a common room microwave, before setting fire to bedding and a mattress piled up by another inmate.
In granting the HRO application for a period of two years following Mitchell’s release from jail, Justice Estcourt ordered the defendant reside at approved premises, abide by a night curfew, submit to random drug and alcohol tests, and allow himself to be frisked by police on request.
Mitchell was also ordered to not commit any crimes punishable by prison, and not leave the state without the approval of Tasmania’s Director of Corrective Services.
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Originally published as Knife-violence perpetrator Kieran Scott Mitchell declared High Risk Offender by Supreme Court
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