Brett Peter Cowan’s jailhouse attacker freed on parole

A QUEENSLAND prisoner who tortured Daniel Morcombe’s killer by pouring hot water over him has been released on parole. (Picture: Channel 9)

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A QUEENSLAND prisoner who tortured Daniel Morcombe’s killer by pouring hot water over him has been released on parole.

Adam Paul Davidson was sentenced to three years’ jail last month for the vigilante crime, but Brisbane District Court Judge Ian Dearden decided to “take a chance” on the father-of-four and grant him early release.

A Queensland Corrective Services spokesman confirmed Davidson had been freed today in accordance with a court-ordered parole order.

Davidson pleaded guilty to torturing Brett Peter Cowan at the high-security Wolston Correctional Centre in Wacol on August 5 last year.

Adam Paul Davidson after his release today. Picture: Channel 9

The court heard he filled up a mop bucket from a hot water urn and tipped it over the killer’s head while Cowan was playing cards with other inmates.

Davidson, who was in jail for robbery and fraud offences, told police Cowan had it coming and the attack served as “a little bit of retribution”.

He said he “wanted to be a voice for Daniel because he could not speak out”.

Cowan was treated in hospital for superficial burns to 15 per cent of his body and has since recovered from his injuries.

He is serving a life sentence for the abduction and murder of Daniel Morcombe on the Sunshine Coast in December 2003.

The 13-year-old’s remains were found in August 2011 after an elaborate police operation prompted Cowan to confess and lead undercover officers to where he dumped the teenager’s body.

The Corrective Services spokesman said parolees were subject to “strict supervision” that could include curfews and electronic monitoring.

Adam Paul Davidson after his release today. Picture: Channel 9

Originally published as Brett Peter Cowan’s jailhouse attacker freed on parole