Murderer Shane Mayne killed innocent uni student in 2005, he’s now on his third parole chance

A Launceston murderer who was granted parole after finding God was sent back to prison for breaching his conditions. But he’s back on the outside for his third try.

Shane Mayne in 2005.

A Launceston murderer who was granted parole after finding God was sent back to prison for breaching his conditions when his church mentor died.

But Shane Anthony Mayne has now been granted his third stint on parole. He has returned from Risdon Prison to Launceston’s Door of Hope Christian church, given his “period of instability appears to have now passed”.

In 2005, when Mayne was 26, he committed a horrific murder of random violence by mowing down a university student with his car.

After deliberately executing a U-turn to sideswipe 19-year-old Matthew Gouldthorpe, who had simply asked for directions, Mayne executed a second U-turn and chased his victim.

Mr Gouldthorpe was hit by the front of Mayne’s car, fell underneath and was dragged along the street for about 25 metres.

Mayne was jailed until 2019, when he was released on parole, but was reincarcerated in March 2023 after he tested positive to the drug ice while driving, and for attending licensed premises.

Shane Mayne leaving the Supreme Court in Launceston in the back of a police car after being sentenced to 25 years for murdering student Matthew Gouldthorpe.

He was paroled again in August last year – but only lasted a month on the outside.

In its newly-published decision, the Parole Board of Tasmania said Mayne had found a “supportive and caring environment” at the Church of Hope and was a “welcome participant”.

However, his “prolonged period of compliance and prosocial personal growth” was derailed when his church mentor died – but also due to his withdrawal from opiate replacement therapy, and significant chronic pain from a leg injury.

The board said Mayne recognised it was vital he stay on opioid replacement therapy to manage his drug dependency.

During his time back in prison, Mayne was stabilised on the Buvidal Program, with his opioid addiction managed by a regular injection.

The board said Mayne also knew he needed to engage with mainstream medicine to deal with his leg pain, and had shown insight into needing to separate himself from “anti-social peers”.

It said while Mayne’s offending fell “at the highest levels of criminal behaviour”, taking the life of another person and leaving permanent, “unrelenting” impacts on the family of Mr Gouldthorpe, the board said he had both the intent and capacity to effect change in his life.

“(He) does not present a risk to the community that can’t be protected through his monitoring and supervision,” the board said.

Mayne has been paroled until September 2033 under electronic monitoring.

He must not associate with certain people, and must take part in a mental health care plan.

Follow @ambervwilson