FRANKSTON serial killer Paul Denyer will not be released from prison until he is permanently incapacitated.
Denyer murdered Elizabeth Stevens, Deborah Fream, and Natalie Russell in Frankston’s surrounding suburbs in 1993. He was handed a life sentence with a 30-year non-parole period, which ended this year.
Last week, Victorian Parliament passed a proposed change to the law to keep Denyer behind bars for life. The bill read that Denyer cannot be released until the adult parole board is satisfied he is “in imminent danger of dying, or is seriously incapacitated, and as a result he no longer has the physical ability to do harm to any person.”
Denyer had an application for parole denied earlier this year.
Frankston MP Paul Edbrooke said the victims’ families deserved thanks for working on the legislation. “I want to thank all involved in the work to have this robust legislation passed. To the Russell family and friends – Brian, Carmel, Karen, Lisa and Jeanine, your enduring patience and advice has been paramount in bringing forth these changes to the legislation,” he said.
Edbrooke said the legislation would be known as “Nat’s Law” in memory of Natalie Russell. “Nat’s Law honours both the advocacy of victims’ families and the legacies of Natalie Russell, Elizabeth Stevens and Debbie Fream by ensuring people who belong in prison, stay in prison,” he said.
The new law also prevents people convicted of serious crimes, including murderers and rapists, from making repeated parole applications.