NSW: Govt fails to quash transsexual killer's early release

AAP General News (Australia)
08-25-2006
NSW: Govt fails to quash transsexual killer's early release

Transsexual killer MADDISON HALL will be released from jail .. after the New South
Wales Supreme Court ruled the Parole Authority made no legal error in granting her early
release.

The prisoner .. then known as NOEL CROMPTON HALL .. was originally sentenced to life
in jail for the 1987 murder of hitchhiker LYN SAUNDERS.

Mr SAUNDERS was gunned down at Gol Gol .. in southern New South Wales .. in what the
sentencing judge described as a callous and cold-blooded killing.

But HALL .. who after undergoing gender reassignment surgery in 2003 changed her name
to MADDISON HALL .. later had the sentence redetermined to 22 years.

She has served her minimum 16-and-a-half years behind bars .. and in July was approved
for early release by the Parole Authority.

But Attorney-General BOB DEBUS applied to the Supreme Court to quash that decision
.. arguing the Parole Authority had applied an out-of-date law in the case and based its
decision on false or misleading information.

At a hearing earlier this month .. Crown Advocate RICHARD COGSWELL SC said the parole
decision failed to take into account a legislative amendment .. introduced last October
.. requiring the consideration of community safety.

The amendment also required the Parole Authority to consider the need to maintain public
confidence in the administration of justice .. as well as the nature and circumstances
of the offence.

But Justice PETER McCLELLAN found the Parole Authority did consider the relevant legislation.

Justice MCCLELLAN says he's not persuaded an error of law has been made and he's dismissed
the government's application .. ordering it to pay HALL's costs.

There's no information on when HALL might be released.

AAP RTV ka/klw/crh/ibw

KEYWORD: HALL (SYDNEY)

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