Man who fatally shoved grandmother onto New Town Road again granted parole

A man who killed a grandmother by pushing her from a traffic island in a Hobart suburb, causing her to hit her head on the road, has again been granted parole.

A MAN who killed a grandmother at New Town by pushing her from a traffic island, causing her to hit her head on the road, has again been granted parole.

It’s the second time Robert Frederick Bowden has been released from Risdon Prison over the October 2014 manslaughter of 71-year-old Carmel Nettlefold.

He was initially granted parole in February last year, but he was re-incarcerated for noncompliance with his conditions a few months later.

Carmel Nettlefold died aged 71 after being pushed by Robert Frederick Bowden.

Bowden was 50 and under the influence of alcohol and Valium when he suddenly, and for no reason, shoved Ms Nettlefold violently with both hands in the chest at the corner of New Town Road and Argyle Street.

The force of the push caused Ms Nettlefold to fall backwards and hit her head, dying in hospital four days later.

Bowden, who didn’t stop to check on his victim before fleeing the scene, later pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to eight years’ jail, with a non-parole period of five.

The Parole Board of Tasmania said Bowden had served several periods of imprisonment before, but that the threat of jail hadn’t seemed to moderate his behaviour.

In its newly-published decision, the board said he was “not however without prospect for rehabilitation”.

It noted he’d engaged in therapy, including a stopping violence program and alcohol and drug counselling, and had “gained insight to understand his behaviour triggers”.

O'Hara Cottages.

Bowden, while in custody, has worked his way through the system and was most recently held at the minimum security O’Hara Cottages, with his case notes reflecting “generally polite and compliant behaviour”.

“Control of his behaviour is clearly a significant challenge for the applicant if he was to return to the community,” the board said.

His last period of parole was characterised by poor behaviour and compliance.

Bowden was paroled as of July 20, with conditions he not enter the suburb of New Town, must be electronically monitored, and attend psychological counselling.

Follow @ambervwilson