By Sam Cucchiara
Frankston serial killer Paul Denyer could be released on parole as early as next week, his victims’ families have been told.
A former prison guard, a veteran homicide detective and family and friends of two victims have all expressed fears Denyer has not reformed and will be a threat to the community.
Deborah Fream was serial killer Paul Denyer’s second victim.
The former prison officer, who was stationed inside the protection unit where the triple-murderer was housed, told A Current Affair and The Age that Denyer, now 50, had shown no remorse while in jail.
“I do think he would (kill) again,” said the former guard, who asked to remain anonymous out of concern for his safety. “I’ve seen quite a lot of prisoners do jail well. Things like TAFE courses and university courses.
“Denyer hasn’t done anything in 30 years.”
Denyer murdered Elizabeth Stevens, 18; Deborah Fream, 22; and Natalie Russell, 17, over seven weeks in June and July 1993.
A detective interviews Paul Denyer in 1993.
Originally sentenced to life in prison with no minimum term, Denyer was re-sentenced on appeal to serve a minimum of 30 years, but victims’ families have been told he could be eligible for parole as early as Tuesday.
The former prison officer detailed how Denyer began referring to himself as “Paula” and fashioned female attire from prison greens in a violation of jail rules, though prison insiders said he now identified as male.
Last year, authorities wrote to victims’ families, asking them to provide input on Denyer’s bid for freedom.
Victorian MP David Limbrick, who was 19 when his then-girlfriend Natalie Russell was murdered, said keeping the killer behind bars wasn’t about “punishment” but “making sure he can never harm another woman”.
“Clearly the government’s chosen to put their faith in the parole process,” Limbrick said. “I think our role now is to make our voices heard so hopefully the parole board will see and listen to the concern from the community.”
Natalie’s best friend at the time, Karen, who only wanted her first name used, said she would be “really fearful for the whole community” if Denyer was released.
Retired homicide detective Charlie Bezzina helped catch Denyer and is worried about his release.Credit: Justin McManus
Deborah Fream’s son, Jake Blair, who was 12 days old when his mother went out for groceries and never returned, is also opposed Denyer’s bid for parole. He described the pain of never knowing his mother as a huge “hole”.
“To this day I still ask myself why it happened, I try not to think about it because the more I think about it the more it hurts,” he said.
“I can sort of feel the fear, I guess you would say, from other people and myself, and it just builds and builds.”
A woman who began writing to Denyer after reading about his transition said she exchanged dozens of letters with the prisoner over two years and visited him multiple times.
In the letters, seen by A Current Affair and The Age, Denyer mostly speaks of daily life in jail.
In a 100-word questionnaire Denyer was asked to describe a time he got into trouble. He replied: “Broke a fire alarm at a train station.”
When asked what made him a good person Denyer wrote: “Capacity to love”.
“He did say to me, ‘I had to kill three, so I could get that serial killer label’ and that sent chills down my spine,” said the woman, who has since ended her contact with Denyer.
Former homicide detective Charlie Bezzina, who helped put Denyer behind bars, said he believed he would “absolutely” kill again.
“There is no doubt in my mind,” he said. “He is programmed that way.”
Corrections Victoria and the Victorian government would not confirm when Denyer’s parole application would be heard.
The Adult Parole Board said it did not comment on individual prisoners.
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