THIS MAN WANTS TO SET 9 KILLERS FREE
Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2004 5:55 am
This man wants to set 9 killers free
THIS politician is lobbying to get some of the state's worst murderers out of jail – instead of working for the decent people of NSW.
Upper House MP Peter Breen – elected in 1999 with just 1 per cent of the vote – believes the best way he can serve the taxpayers who pay his $102,000 salary is by fighting for the freedom of the state's most notorious killers.
He is supporting bids for freedom by Allan Baker, who killed Virginia Morse in 1973, and Stephen "Shorty" Jamieson and Bronson Blessington, the killers of Sydney nurse Janine Balding.
All three were sentenced to die behind bars after having their files stamped "never to be released".
Kevin Crump, also jailed for the murder of Mrs Morse, had his life sentence redetermined in 1997 and was given 30 years non-parole. He failed in a bid for parole last year.
Others who would be affected by Mr Breen's actions include the five men who raped and killed nurse Anita Cobby – John Travers, Michael Murdoch and the three Murphy brothers.
Mr Breen – currently under investigation by ICAC for allegedly misusing his parliamentary entitlements – backed a High Court challenge this week by double murderer Baker.
Mr Breen stood outside the High Court and declared he could "win" the murderers their freedom.
"This man is a disgrace," Janine Balding's mother Bev said yesterday.
"He is disrespectful and has hurt my family. I hope no one ever votes for him again. What's he doing for the people he's supposed to be representing?"
Mr Breen yesterday said that working to free murderers was "exactly why I was elected to Parliament".
"It is my job to help the minority," he said, adding he would be taking up Blessington's case.
Blessington was 14 when he, Jamieson and Matthew Elliot attacked Ms Balding at knife point.
They repeatedly raped her before tying her up and drowning her.
Mr Breen said he was convinced Blessington had been rehabilitated: "He teaches scripture in jail."
State MPs, led by Premier Bob Carr, yesterday reacted angrily.
"I'm disappointed that an elected member of the NSW Parliament would actively work to have these criminals released," Mr Carr said.
Opposition Leader John Brogden said NSW taxpayers would not accept an "apologist for murderers".
THIS politician is lobbying to get some of the state's worst murderers out of jail – instead of working for the decent people of NSW.
Upper House MP Peter Breen – elected in 1999 with just 1 per cent of the vote – believes the best way he can serve the taxpayers who pay his $102,000 salary is by fighting for the freedom of the state's most notorious killers.
He is supporting bids for freedom by Allan Baker, who killed Virginia Morse in 1973, and Stephen "Shorty" Jamieson and Bronson Blessington, the killers of Sydney nurse Janine Balding.
All three were sentenced to die behind bars after having their files stamped "never to be released".
Kevin Crump, also jailed for the murder of Mrs Morse, had his life sentence redetermined in 1997 and was given 30 years non-parole. He failed in a bid for parole last year.
Others who would be affected by Mr Breen's actions include the five men who raped and killed nurse Anita Cobby – John Travers, Michael Murdoch and the three Murphy brothers.
Mr Breen – currently under investigation by ICAC for allegedly misusing his parliamentary entitlements – backed a High Court challenge this week by double murderer Baker.
Mr Breen stood outside the High Court and declared he could "win" the murderers their freedom.
"This man is a disgrace," Janine Balding's mother Bev said yesterday.
"He is disrespectful and has hurt my family. I hope no one ever votes for him again. What's he doing for the people he's supposed to be representing?"
Mr Breen yesterday said that working to free murderers was "exactly why I was elected to Parliament".
"It is my job to help the minority," he said, adding he would be taking up Blessington's case.
Blessington was 14 when he, Jamieson and Matthew Elliot attacked Ms Balding at knife point.
They repeatedly raped her before tying her up and drowning her.
Mr Breen said he was convinced Blessington had been rehabilitated: "He teaches scripture in jail."
State MPs, led by Premier Bob Carr, yesterday reacted angrily.
"I'm disappointed that an elected member of the NSW Parliament would actively work to have these criminals released," Mr Carr said.
Opposition Leader John Brogden said NSW taxpayers would not accept an "apologist for murderers".