Victims’ nightmare as convicted killer free on parole

THE psychopathic killer responsible for one of Tasmania’s most horrific crime sprees will be released tomorrow.

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THE traumatised victims of Jamie John Curtis say they will be forever haunted by his acts of “pure evil”.

Curtis, 62, is expected to be released on parole tomorrow after serving 32 years in jail.

The woman Curtis repeatedly raped and tortured — who cannot be named for legal reasons — yesterday told the Sunday Tasmanian she was “pretty certain” he would commit another crime.

“I’ve thought about just picking up and going away for a while but why should I have to disrupt my life?” she said.

“I’m worried the police won’t be able to protect me. I’m pretty certain he will reoffend.”

The woman said Curtis should not be released.

“I don’t think anyone who did what he did should be released from prison,” said the victim.

“He’s pure evil to the core.”

After drinking all night on February 15, 1986, Curtis and his teenage accomplice went on a rampage — abducting the then 19-year-old woman and murdering her fiance Dean Allie, 22.

Curtis was sentenced in 1986 for murder, abduction, six counts of rape, aggravated burglary, four counts of causing grievous bodily harm, nine counts of assault, three counts of indecent assault, one count of escape and two counts of burglary.

Mr Allie’s sister Carol said neither of the men have ever apologised.

“Not once, in a single court hearing, did either of them have any remorse,” she said. “It still feels like it happened yesterday. Hearing that he will be released has turned the clock all the way back.

“On Monday, he gets his life back, but we don’t get Dean back.”

Curtis and the teenager first abducted a 15-year-old girl at knifepoint, but she managed to escape from the boot of their car.

They then went to Glenorchy and attacked the 19-year-old victim and Mr Allie in their home over a 12-hour period.

They eventually drove the victims to farmland at Gretna and stabbed Mr Allie 12 times, with a fatal wound to the heart.

The men were arrested at the scene.

Chief Justice William Cox said the men murdered Mr Allie in hope of escaping detection.

“In the scale of seriousness of criminal conduct culminating in murder, this case ranks among the worst one is likely to encounter,” he said.

Despite allowing Curtis to work outside the prison unsupervised for almost two years, the Parole Board said he would require a “medium level” of supervision once released.

“Conditions that have been recommended if he is granted parole include ongoing counselling with a psychologist, no consumption of alcohol, non-association with his co-offender and a curfew that would allow him to work,” its decision read in part.

The decision also said Curtis had shown clear evidence of personality disorder with a high number of psychopathic traits.

“His treating psychologist noted that a personality disorder is enduring and essentially a way of being and therefore cannot be cured,” it said.

“The Board appreciates the understandable concerns of the victims which were powerfully conveyed in their Victim Impact Statements. Their views are important; there are, however, a number of other factors which must be considered when making this decision.”

Mr Allie’s sister said Curtis would remain a risk until the day he died.

“We want the public to know what he’s capable of, it will only take one thing to provoke him,” she said.

“We’ve begged the Parole Board to send him to the mainland. If he does it again, will they be accountable?”