Coroner calls for drug tests, spot checks of parolees after inquest into Dermot O’Toole’s death

THE state coroner has called for tougher powers for authorities to manage parolees, including random drug testing and spot checks, after the murder of a Melbourne jeweller.

Loving family man Dermot O'Toole was murdered in his Hastings store by a man on parole.

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THE state coroner has urged tougher powers for the Adult Parole Board and the introduction of random drug testing and spot checks for parolees.

A day before a Council of Australian Governments tomorrow is expected to focus on parole laws Judge Sara Hinchey today handed down her findings into the death of Dermot O’Toole.

Mr O’Toole, a jeweller, was stabbed to death by parolee killer Gavin Perry at his jewellery store on July 12, 2013.

Perry was assessed as being at high risk of reoffending just one month before his release on parole.

Mr O’Toole’s family initiated a coronial inquest amid serious concerns about why Perry was on parole at the time given his extensive criminal history and numerous parole breaches.

His inquest heard Perry missed supervision appointments and had a drug addiction that was not properly monitored.

Loving family man Dermot O’Toole was murdered in his Hastings store by a man on parole.

His supervision meetings were also reduced from weekly to fortnightly.

Judge Hinchey said a raft of Adult Parole System reforms had addressed numerous systemic defects including concerns about parole breaches.

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But she called on increased powers for Corrections Victoria and the Adult Parole Board to obtain the health and medical records of offenders.

She also recommended Corrections Victoria consider integrating random drug testing into the supervision and reporting regimen for any parolee subject to a drug and alcohol testing parole condition.

Before murdering Mr O’Toole, Perry had racked up more than 160 convictions over more than a dozen years.

The store where jeweller Dermot O’Toole was killed. Picture: RTE

He had spent most of his adult life in jail.

On the day he killed Mr O’Toole, Perry was high on the drug ice.

He pleaded guilty to murder, intentionally causing serious injury and three counts of armed robbery.

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Parole laws are expected to come scrutiny at tomorrow’s COAG meeting after revelations the parole board had no idea Brighton siege gunman Yacqub Khayre was on a terror watch list when paroled.

Victoria’s parole system has also been questioned by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull over concerns Khayre launched his attack seven months after being released from jail.

The COAG meeting with the prime minister and other premiers will be held in Hobart on Friday.