Third shot at freedom: notorious rapist, murderer Jamie John Curtis wins fresh bid for parole

One of Tasmania’s most violent criminals, who murdered a man after repeatedly raping his fiancée in front of him, is set to walk free from prison. When he could be set free.

Rapist and murderer Jamie John Curtis, formerly known as Gordon Francis Curtis, has been paroled for a third time. Picture: Supplied

One of Tasmania’s most notorious criminals, who tortured and murdered a man after repeatedly raping his fiancée in front of him almost four decades ago, is set to walk free from prison this week after winning a third chance at freedom.

But the survivor of Jamie John Curtis’s depraved 1986 rampage has hit out at the Parole Board’s latest decision, saying the 69-year-old killer belonged permanently behind bars.

“Curtis is and will always remain an extremely dangerous felon to whom the community warrant protection,” said Tameka Ridgeway, who in 2020 become only the second woman in Tasmania to win her right to self-identify as a sexual assault survivor in the media.

“The decision made by the Parole Board to grant this individual’s release from prison was indeed a very foolish one.”

Mug shot of Jamie John Curtis, who was then known as Gordon Francis Curtis.

Curtis was sentenced to life in prison with a non-parole period of 30 years for the stabbing murder of 22-year-old Glenorchy man Dean Allie, who was tortured for up to 12 hours before his death.

The man formerly known as Gordon Francis Curtis also received a concurrent, 25-year sentence for crimes of abduction, aggravated burglary, four counts of causing grievous bodily harm, nine counts of criminal code assault, three counts of indecent assault, six counts of rape, one count of escape and two counts of burglary.

That sentence has been served in full.

Only eight months perpetrating his night of terror, which included torturing his victims with a chainsaw and boiling water, Curtis triggered a week-long manhunt across the state after escaping from prison in a laundry van.

Curtis was first granted parole for murder in June 2018 after serving 32 years in Risdon Prison, and had begun work at a butcher’s shop before being returned to custody after just four months when he was charged with breaching the terms of his Community Protection Order, and setting up prohibited accounts on multiple dating sites.

The rapist and murderer won a second chance at freedom in early 2021, when the Parole Board of Tasmania concluded the risks posed by his release could be managed through a “wide range of supports”.

The front page of the Mercury on Monday 17 February, 1986 detailing Curtis’s crimes.

Although Curtis successfully applied to have his electronic monitoring bracelet removed in 2022, he was taken back to jail a month later after allegedly breaching the conditions of his parole.

While the Parole Board said it did not comment on individual cases, the Mercury understands Curtis has already received a green light for his release, and could be back on the streets as early as Wednesday.

While the Parole Board’s reasons for approving Curtis’s latest application are yet to be published, the report approving his 2021 release found he was described as “polite” and “respectful” by custodial officers, and had been employed as a wardsman within the prison.

The front page of the Mercury on Saturday 4 October 1986 details the escape of the prisoner who was then known as Gordon Francis Curtis.

The board said Curtis would return to the job at the butchery he started three years prior.

“It is reported that the applicant is a highly regarded employee and on release will be offered similar responsibility and full-time hours,” it said.

However, the rapist’s then-19-year-old victim had expressed her “profound” fears about his second release, telling the Mercury in 2021 that she felt let down by the board’s decision.

The front page of the Mercury on Monday 13 October 1986

At his 1986 Supreme Court sentencing, Curtis was described by then Chief Justice William Cox as having perpetrated a “sustained course of brutal abduction, assault, sexual abuse and ultimately murder in the vain hope of escaping detection”, which “beggar(ed) belief”.

Chief Justice Cox later described Curtis’s conduct as “unprovoked, brutal, prolonged, indiscriminate, and callous”, and said the case ranked among the worst the courts were likely to encounter.

Originally published as Third shot at freedom: notorious rapist, murderer Jamie John Curtis wins fresh bid for parole