Murdoch joins long list of murderers kept in minimum security at Darwin’s prison

NOTORIOUS outback killer, Bradley John Murdoch, is part of a group of the Territory’s worst murderers who are now classified as “low security” inmates in Darwin’s prison.

Bradley John Murdoch arrives under police escort at Darwin Airport to face trial over the murder of Peter Falconio. Picture: Patrina Malone

NOTORIOUS outback killer Bradley John Murdoch is part of a cohort of the Territory’s worst murderers who are now classified as “low security” inmates in Darwin’s prison.

Murdoch, 58, was convicted in 2005 for the 2001 roadside execution-style murder of British traveller Peter Falconio and assaulting his girlfriend, Joanne Lees.

Under new “no body, no parole” laws Murdoch is unlikely to ever be released unless he fesses up to where he disposed of Mr Falconio’s body.

Joining Murdoch as a low-security inmates are Ben William McLean and Phu Ngoc Trinh, who murdered two women in 2004 by tying them up, attaching a car battery to each woman and throwing them in the Adelaide River.

Phu Ngoc Trinh, who along with Ben William McLean, was convicted of murdering two women in 2004, is escorted by police through Darwin Airport. Picture: Michael Marschall

Also enjoying the privileges of a low security lifestyle is convicted murderer Shane Patrick Thomas, who killed Marshall Haritos by bashing him with a baseball bat and stabbing him.

Thomas then dismembered Mr Haritos’s body, putting the body parts into suitcases, which he tried to hide in the rural area.

The benefits of achieving a low security classification in Territory prisons are huge.

It means prisoners receive more time outside of their cell, fewer security checks, longer visits, better access to sports and recreational activities, and fewer correctional officers on guard duty.

Low-security prisoners are also allowed to hang onto their razors whereas medium and high security inmates need to return them after each shave.

Ben William McLean is also now classified as a “low security” inmate. Picture: Michael Marschall

In the Darwin Correctional Centre, low security inmates are still housed behind wire, however in Alice Springs they are outside the wire in cottage-style accommodation

“Why on earth would you put a bloke like Bradley Murdoch in low security so he can sit around for the next 20 years planning what he’s going to do to go on the lam?” one correctional officer told the NT News.

Last year the NT News reported that former cop John Daulby, who led the Northern Territory police investigation into the murder of Falconio in 2001, and later sat on the NT parole board, said pressure should be put on Murdoch to get him to talk, and one way to do it was to ­remove his privileges by putting him in maximum security.

It’s also been reported that Murdoch was treated “more like a prison guard” inside the Darwin Correctional Centre, regularly throwing tantrums and wielding significant influence over the kitchen work gang, according to leaked documents.

Prisoner Jermaine Austral, 20, was caught this week in Broken Hill, 20 days after his escape from Alice Springs prison.

His breakout was the latest in a long list of prison bungles in both Darwin and Alice Springs.

Marshall Haritos ... his killer, Shane Patrick Thomas, is also enjoying the privileges of a low security lifestyle. Picture: Supplied

For almost two years, correctional officers have blamed the extraordinary number of escapes on what they say is a flawed classification manual and have continually called for it to be scrapped in favour for a more rigid system.

United Voice union secretary Erina Early said correctional officers in the NT were suffering with morale issues in the wake of about 40 escapes in the last two years.

“They’re the experts and yet it seems management just isn’t willing to listen to them,” she said.

“It comes down to community safety: is our current corrections system enabling our officers to keep the community safe?

“I believe the number of escapes speaks for itself in saying: no, it isn’t.”

A spokesman for the NT Department of Correctional Services said more than half of the Territory’s convicted murderers were classified as low security.

“The NT’s 39 convicted murderers currently serving sentences, 21 are currently rated low security,” he said.

“They have achieved this status after progressing through a series of security rated evaluations specific to behaviour and work performance in line with our sentence management manual.

“So-called high profile prisoners have the same right to security evaluations as other prisoners.”

The spokesman said works to improve the security of Alice Spring’s cottages were underway.

“Work on improving security at the ... low security sector is continuing; with an upgrade to the integrity of the wire mesh fence and a review of the security cameras with proposed upgrades being finalised for consideration,” he said.

A review of the sentencing manual was also underway, the spokesman said.

“Among the recommendations being considered is a change to the low security rating to enable improved monitoring and assessment of the low security group before entering the community for reintegration activities,” he said.