Parole group action: Murdered Ballarat mum Sharon Siermans’ parents join fight
THE parents of murdered mum Sharon Denise Siermans are the latest victims of parolee killers and sex offenders to join a group legal action against the State Government.
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THE parents of murdered mum Sharon Denise Siermans are the latest victims of parolee killers and sex offenders to join a group legal action against the State Government.
The state is now being sued for eight horrific murders and two brutal sex attacks committed by offenders on parole or under supervision orders.
Denise and John Siermans say the state were responsible for determining the suitability of their daughter’s killer for parole, monitoring his release, protecting the public from him and responding to calls to police about his behaviour.
The heartbroken couple say authorities failed in their duty of care in carrying out those duties.
“The conduct of the (State) was negligent and fell below a reasonable standard of care,” their writ file with the Supreme Court says.
Ms Siermans, 29, was beaten to death with a cricket bat when Jason John Dinsley — who she had met on an internet dating site — “flipped” out and wanted to punish his victim for rejecting his advances.
Dinsley beat her to death as her four-year-old son Aron hid in another room.
In June the Herald Sun revealed the families of five murder victims — Sarah Cafferkey, Raechel Betts, Joanne Wicking, Evan Rudd, and Douglas Phillips — had launched a group action, along with the victims of two sex attacks.
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Bridget O’Toole, whose husband and Hastings Jeweller Dermot O’Toole was killed during a bungled 2013 robbery joined the group in July and earlier this month the parents of Elsa Janet Corp, who was killed on a blind date in 2010, also joined the group.
Ms Siermans’ killer had at least a year to go on his parole when he broke into his victim’s Ballarat home, attempted to rape her and then killed her on April 6, 2013.
Shine lawyer Paula Shelton said Dinsley had remained on parole despite returning a positive drug test.
“Sharon’s murder was discovered hours later when a visitor to the house spoke to the child who told them ‘mummy won’t wake up and make my breakfast.’,” Ms Shelton said.
Through this action, we’re seeking compensation for the significant harm inflicted upon Sharon’s family and in particular for her son who was just four when he found his mother’s body. He has been profoundly affected by what’s happened.
“This is yet another example of the Government’s failure to adequately respond to parole breaches and another family has paid the price.”
Dinsley, who had almost 100 convictions against his name had not long been out of jail before the killing.
The then 30-year-old had served seven years and one month of an eight-year sentence for the brutal drug-fuelled rape at knifepoint of a woman, 52, in St Kilda, whom he handcuffed and tied up.
Dinsley was jailed for life with a minimum of 32 years for killing Ms Siermans.