Convicted murderer and rapist Jamie John Curtis about to be free on parole

Convicted murderer and rapist Jamie John Curtis is set to be released on parole later this month and one of his victims says the parole board should resign when – not if – he reoffends.

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ONE of Tasmania’s worst criminals will soon be a free man after being granted parole, it is understood, with fears from his victim he will reoffend.

Murderer Jamie John Curtis had been in Risdon Prison since 1986, although he was released briefly on parole once before, after stabbing Glenorchy man Dean Allie to death, brutally and repeatedly raping his finance Tameka Ridgeway and abducting a 15-year-old schoolgirl.

In 2002, Curtis’ life sentence was annulled and he was resentenced to serve a minimum non-parole period of 30 years, which lapsed on Valentine’s Day 2016.

The killer was refused parole at that time, but his release was granted in June 2018 and he gained work at a butcher’s shop before he was locked up again months later over a raft of fresh offences.

It is understood he has again been granted parole and will be required to wear an electronic monitoring device.

Curtis’ victim Tameka Ridgeway said she was “very frustrated, let down and angry” about the decision to parole him. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

Ms Ridgeway told the Sunday Tasmanian she was “very frustrated, let down and angry” about the decision to set him free.

She said she had been informed of the decision by the government-run victims assistance unit on Friday morning and she understood Curtis would be released on January 27.

Ms Ridgeway said she had no doubt the murderer would reoffend.

“It’s not a question of if he will reoffend, it’s a question of to what extreme will he reoffend, and when he does I hope every member of that parole board resigns,” she said.

“He’s previously been given a second chance and he blew it.

“I’m not concerned for my own safety so much as the community’s – whoever gets in his way – I really feel for his next victim.”

Mug shot of Jamie John Curtis.

Curtis’ parole comes before new legislation overhauling the government’s ability to lock criminals up for life has a chance to be finalised.

Last August, Attorney-General Elise Archer announced she had introduced the Dangerous Criminals and High Risk Offenders Bill 2020, aiming to remove the requirement that only a sentencing judge could permanently incarcerate a criminal.

Under current legislation, only his sentencing judge, the now-retired 84-year-old William Cox, could permanently incarcerate Curtis.

A spokeswoman said the state government did not comment on individual cases.

“The government will always stand up for the rights of victims of crime, and we are committed to keeping our communities safe and protecting victims and survivors of crime,” she said.

“The Parole Board is an independent statutory body, and makes decisions independently of government.

“Following amendments in the Legislative Council, the Dangerous Criminals and High Risk Offenders Bill 2020 will be returned to the House of Assembly when parliament resumes.”

Jamie John Curtis set to be released on parole again. Picture: Supplied

The spokeswoman said the Corrections Amendment (Electronic Monitoring) Bill 2020 provided powers for the Parole Board to impose electronic monitoring as a condition on a parole order.