Vanessa Hoson’s family fight to keep her killer behind bars

Fiona Walker will once again have to beg the NSW Parole Board to keep her sister’s killer behind bars. Last time he was released, he harmed another woman.

For seven years, Fiona Walker begged authorities to keep her sister’s killer behind bars, fearing he was a risk to the public if released early, and she was right.

Now, in a cruel twist of fate, Mrs Walker is once again pleading with the NSW Parole Authority to keep Terrence John Leary locked up for his second full sentence, because “he’s shown us twice now what he is capable of” when let out.

Leary was just 10-months into his parole period after serving 22 years in jail for killing teenager Vanessa Hoson with a hammer in 1990, when he dragged a woman behind a bush shelter in Hunters Hill in 2013, and tried to rape her.

Vanessa Hoson was killed by Terrence John Leary in 1990.

The 30-year old victim had just finished a babysitting job and was listening to music while she waited for the bus, when Leary dragged her to the ground and tried to rip her pants off with “extreme and explosive violence”, a court heard.

The depraved killer and sex offender was sentenced to 15 years jail for recklessly causing actual bodily harm with intent to have sexual intercourse, but is eligible for parole from September 18.

Fiona Walker is begging the NSW Parole Board to keep Terrence Leary locked up at his parole hearing on Thursday. Picture: Jonathan Ng

In July, Mrs Walker was notified through a victims’ support register that the parole board had made a provisional intention to grant Leary’s release.

A dismayed and frightened Mrs Walker and her husband Chris have once again taken up the fight, saying they won’t sit back and say “I told you so” a second time.

“The judge in the most recent matter said it herself that he will always be a risk to society. He got parole after Vanessa’s murder, and straight away reoffended, it’s just crazy to think it’s a possibility he will get out (before completing his full sentence),” Mrs Walker said.

Vanessa Hoson’s family want to ensure he won’t hurt another woman.

In a lengthy submission to the Authority, who will today meet to review Leary’s release earliest date, Mrs Walker reminded the board of Judge Helen Syme’s remarks when she sentenced him.

“The sentencing judge for his last known offence stated: “he is a continuing danger to society” and “it cannot be said that he has any real prospects of rehabilitation,” Mrs Walker wrote.

“He needs to be considered a repeat serious sex offender and detained on a Continuing Detention Order for the safety of our community,” she pleaded.

A spokesman for the Parole Authority said the provisional intention to grant parole was subject to any submissions by the State or from victims.

“The Authority relied on the expert advice and recommendations of the Serious Offenders Review Council and Community Corrections.

The spokesman said “community safety is the Authority’s paramount consideration when making determinations for parole”.

If Leary is granted parole, he will be subject to an ankle bracelet monitor which is mandatory for all sex offenders, and will have to comply with strict conditions.

For the Walkers, it is little comfort.

“We have lived with this nightmare our whole lives, after what he did to Vanessa … we know he won’t stop, it will happen again,” they said.

Originally published as Vanessa Hoson’s family fight to keep her killer behind bars