Nelson Patea: Jailed Gold Coast man wants to be let out of prison early

The brother of double murderer Lionel Patea wants to get out of prison so he can be a “role model” to his six-year-old niece.

THE brother of double murderer Lionel Patea wants to get out of prison so he can be a “role model” to his six-year-old niece.

Nelson Patea is still trying to convince the parole board he is fit for release from Woodford Correctional Centre.

His lawyer Campbell MacCallum, of Moloney MacCallum Abdelshahied Lawyers, said Patea was working on a parole application.

Nelson Patea. Photo: David Clark

He said Patea was keen to be seen as “worthy” so he could get permission from the Department of Child Safety to have contact with Lionel’s daughter and “redevelop a relationship” with the child.

Mr MacCallum said Nelson Patea wanted to be a “key role model and support for her in any way possible”.

Campbell MacCallum

Lionel Patea bludgeoned the girl’s mother, Tara Brown, to death with a fire hydrant cover in September 2015. In 2017, he pleaded guilty to her murder.

A year later he admitted to being part of a group that beat pool builder Greg Dufty to death in the Gold Coast Hinterland and then dumped the body. His body has never been found.

He is not eligible to be released from prison until 2048.

Nelson Patea last year pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Mr Dufty and was eligible for parole in January.

It is understood Lionel Patea was willing to plead guilty to Mr Dufty’s murder if it meant his younger brother was able to be released earlier and could help look after his daughter.

Lionel Patea

Mr MacCallum said Nelson Patea was feeling “hopelessness and depression” after long stints in custody.

He has spent a majority of his adult life behind bars.

Nelson Patea has had a patchy period in prison being accused of standing over other prisoners and taking drugs.

Sources have told the Bulletin there was not enough evidence to support a claim that Nelson Patea made threats against another prisoner.

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Greg Dufty

Last year he was found with money in his cell, which, after an investigation, was placed in his prison trust account.

In recent months, he has appeared to turn over a new leaf getting a job in prison workshops and taking part in mentoring, fitness and anti-violence courses.

Nelson Patea has also been a part of the RSPCA dog fostering program where he cared for an abused dog and helped prepare it for adoption.

His parole application will be assessed in the coming weeks.

Nelson Patea will have to prove he has been well-behaved, has good job prospects on release and also have somewhere to live with access to support.

Originally published as Nelson Patea: Jailed Gold Coast man wants to be let out of prison early