Attorney-General for the State of Qld v Kanaveilomani [2013] QSC 86
SUPREME COURT OF QUEENSLAND
CITATION: Attorney-General for the State of Qld v Kanaveilomani
[2013] QSC 86
PARTIES: ATTORNEY-GENERAL FOR THE STATE OF
QUEENSLAND
(Applicant)
v
TIMOCI KURUYAWA KANAVEILOMANI
(Respondent)
FILE NO/S: BS No. 6425/10
DIVISION: Trial Division
PROCEEDING: Application
ORIGINATING
COURT: Supreme Court at Brisbane
DELIVERED ON: 5 April 2013
DELIVERED AT: Brisbane
HEARING DATE: 5 November 2012
JUDGE: Ann Lyons J
ORDER: 1. I will hear from Counsel as to the final form of the
order
CATCHWORDS: DANGEROUS PRISONERS (SEXUAL OFFENDERS)
ACT 2003 – INTERPRETATION – where Respondent was
sentenced to imprisonment for serious sexual offences in
1999 – where originating application brought by the
Attorney-General pursuant to s 5 Dangerous Prisoners
(Sexual Offenders) Act 2003 that the Respondent be subject
to either a continuing detention order under s 13(5)(a) or a
supervision order under s 13(5)(b) – where Respondent was
subsequently sentenced to imprisonment for offences not
amounting to serious sexual offences – whether the
originating application met the requirements of the
Dangerous Prisoners (Sexual Offenders) Act 2003 – where
the Respondent would currently be a serious danger to the
community if released from custody without a Division 3
order as per s 13(1) Dangerous Prisoners (Sexual Offenders)
Act 2003 – where the originating application was valid under
s 5(2)(c) Dangerous Prisoners (Sexual Offenders) Act 2003 –
but where a Division 3 order would have no utility due to the
Respondent being incarcerated and where there was no
cogent evidence that the Respondent would be a serious
danger to the community once released from prison in ten
years – where the Applicant had not discharged the onus in s
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13(7) that one or other of the orders in s 13(5) should be
made
Dangerous Prisoners (Sexual Offenders) Act 2003 (Qld), ss
3, 5, 9A, 13, 14, 15
Juvenile Justice Act 1992 (Qld)
Attorney-General (Qld) v Lawrence [2009] QCA 136
Attorney General for the State of Queensland v Sutherland
[2006] QSC 268
COUNSEL: P Davis SC with J Rolls for the Applicant
J Allen for the Respondent
SOLICITORS: G R Cooper, Crown Solicitor for the Applicant
Legal Aid Queensland
ANN LYONS J:
The criminal history
[1] Timoci Kanaveilomani is currently 30 years of age. On 13 August 1999, at the age
of 17, he pleaded guilty in the Children‘s Court to a number of offences which were
committed over a two month period in 1998, when he was 16. Those offences
included offences of entering a dwelling at night with intent, two counts of assault
occasioning bodily harm and two counts of rape which occurred on 18 October
1998 and 1 November 1998.
[2] There is no doubt from the sentencing remarks of Robertson DCJ on 13 August
1999 that the rape offences involved considerable physical force and were
accompanied by death threats. His Honour indicated that ―it is hard to remember
descriptions of offences of rape that are so violent, so callous and so ferocious.‖ He
also noted that the offences were sinister and involved ―planning, preparation, and
striking at a time when you obviously believed your victims were most vulnerable.‖
The rapes had involved the Respondent entering a woman‘s home, assaulting her
and then raping her.
[3] Pursuant to the Juvenile Justice Act 1992 (Qld), the Respondent was sentenced to
separate terms of imprisonment for each of the offences, to be served concurrently.
He was sentenced to a period of 12 years imprisonment for the rape offences and
lesser periods of imprisonment for the other offences.
[4] Whilst the Respondent was in custody, he came before the courts on four further
occasions in relation to property and violence offences. On 11 July 2003, he pleaded
guilty in the District Court to one count of assault occasioning bodily harm and was
sentenced to a further 12 months imprisonment. The sentence was ordered to be
served cumulatively on the sentence imposed on 13 August 1999 for the 1998
offences.
[5] The Respondent‘s full time release date for those sentences was 19 November 2010.
Release on Parole
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[6] The Respondent was granted parole on 14 November 2008 with a requirement that
he comply with a number of conditions which included that he not use alcohol or
drugs and that he attend a Sex Offender Maintenance Program.
[7] On 25 January 2009, two months after he was granted parole, he committed further
offences. Whilst the initial charges included the offence of grievous bodily harm
with intent to commit rape, he was ultimately sentenced on one count of entering a
dwelling with intent to commit an indictable offence, one count of grievous bodily
harm and one count of stealing.
Further offending whilst on Parole
[8] The circumstances of that offending involved the Respondent creeping into a home
through an unlocked door at 3.30 am. To reach the complainant‘s bedroom, he
needed to walk past a number of people asleep in the house including young
children. The Respondent then viciously attacked the complainant and she suffered
severe head trauma as well as bleeding on the brain. The Respondent was observed
to be bending over the complainant whilst she was lying face down on the bed
before fleeing when the complainant‘s sister-in-law opened the complainant‘s
bedroom door after being roused by the complainant‘s screams. The Respondent‘s
mobile phone was found at the complainant‘s home. He was subsequently arrested
and was charged on 28 January 2009. His parole was suspended indefinitely and he
was immediately returned to custody given that his full time release date for his
1998 offences was not until 19 November 2010.
[9] On 22 June 2010, which was within the last six months of the period of
imprisonment imposed in 1999, the Attorney-General for the State of Queensland
filed an application pursuant to s 5 of the Dangerous Prisoners (Sexual Offenders)
Act 2003 (Qld) (―DPSOA‖) that the Respondent be detained in custody for an
indefinite term for care, treatment or control or, that when released from custody, he
be subject to conditions. The Respondent was subsequently assessed by a number of
psychiatrists in 2010 in accordance with the provisions of the DPSOA. Reports
were prepared by Dr Joan Lawrence, Dr Michael Beech and Professor Barry
Nurcombe.
[10] On 10 January 2012, the Respondent was sentenced in relation to the offences
committed on 25 January 2009. He received 13 years imprisonment in respect of the
grievous bodily harm charge, 10 years in respect of the entering a dwelling charge
and three years for stealing. All terms of imprisonment are concurrent. Four
hundred and seventeen days of presentence custody were declared and his full time
release date is 20 November 2023, that is, in 11 years‘ time.
This Application
[11] Since November 2010, the Respondent has been serving a lengthy period of
imprisonment for these violent offences committed in January 2009. Arguably, they
are not serious sexual offences within the definitions in the DPSOA. Accordingly,
an application under the DPSOA may not be able to be made six months before the
full time release date in November 2023.
[12] The Applicant therefore wishes to proceed with the current application, filed in June
2010, despite the fact that the Respondent will not be living in the community in the
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foreseeable future. The Applicant argues that, as the Respondent was a prisoner for
the purposes of the DPSOA at the time the application was made, a Division 3
Order can be made at this point in time. The Applicant also argues that not only
was the application validly brought pursuant to the requirements of the DPSOA, but
that as the requirements of s 13 DPSOA have been satisfied, a continuing detention
order pursuant to s 13(5)(a) should now be made even though it will not have any
practical effect until the end of his present sentence.
[13] The overarching question, therefore, is whether the current application in fact fulfils
all of the requirements of the DPSOA. The real issues are whether the Respondent
is a serious risk to the community in the absence of a Division 3 order and whether
a Division 3 Order should be made now. These issues have to be determined by
acceptable cogent evidence to a high degree of probability.
Psychological and psychiatric reports
[14] The three psychiatrists who initially assessed the Respondent have also prepared
updated reports and all gave evidence at the hearing of the application. In particular,
the Court considered reports from Dr Joan Lawrence, dated 2 February 2010, 26
June 2012, 17 September 2012 and 1 November 2012, Dr Michael Beech, dated 26
September 2010, 15 September 2012 and 15 October 2012 and Professor Barry
Nurcombe, dated 7 August 2010 and 25 August 2012. There are also a number of
psychologists‘ reports, including the reports of Mr Scott Natho, dated 9 January
2012 and Dr James Freeman, dated 10 August 2009.
The evidence of Dr Lawrence
[15] Dr Lawrence initially conducted extensive interviews with the Respondent as well
as undertaking a number of formal risk assessments. Dr Lawrence‘s opinion is
conveniently summarised in her Second Addendum Report of 17 September 2012.
She considered that the Respondent is a very high risk of reoffending sexually, if
released currently or in the near future and that there is evidence of a Psychopathic
Personality Disorder, as described by Hare. She also noted that he was released on
parole only 2 months earlier after a lengthy sentence for previous violent sexual
crimes. She also considered that he had displayed a lack of compliance with
supervisory conditions, virtually from the outset of his parole and totally
disregarded many of those conditions.
[16] Dr Lawrence also noted the deliberateness of his behaviour in the current offences
in that he entered a house passing through rooms with sleeping people in the middle
of the night and the coolness of his behaviour, even when potentially detected and
disturbed, entering the victim‘s bedroom where she was sleeping alone and his
attack upon her. Dr Lawrence was concerned by the coolness of his response, even
when disturbed by an adult in the act and during his departure, the violence of the
attack on the woman with its concentration upon her face and neck.
[17] Dr Lawrence considered that the violence was used as a prelude to a sexual attack
and that the behaviour indicated a high degree of callousness, recklessness and
ruthlessness. She also noted that a comparison of the modus operandi of this crime,
with that of his two previous rape events, as described by his victims, revealed
considerable similarity including the common elements of planning, waiting for a
woman to be alone, making threats and taking a coercive approach by putting his
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hands over the victim‘s mouth, compressing the victim‘s neck to control in a
strangulation-type mode and threatening and actually using violence.
[18] Dr Lawrence also referred to the extent and severity of the consequences of the
Respondent‘s violence and his lack of remorse or empathy concerning his behaviour
not only towards his victims, but also towards his female mentor, whose kindness
and care he betrayed and abused so rapidly. Dr Lawrence noted the Respondent‘s
long term conning and manipulation of his mentor, both leading up to parole and
subsequently. She also referred to evidence of deliberate acts suggestive of a plan to
escape imprisonment by self-injury and transport to hospital from Borallon after his
return to custody.
[19] Dr Lawrence also indicated that the Respondent had failed to benefit from previous
courses, including two Drug and Alcohol Programs, an Anger Management Course,
a Cognitive Skills Program and the Getting Started and the Medium Intensity
Sexual Offender Treatment Programs. Reference was also made to the Respondent‘s
continuing use of alcohol and marijuana in direct contravention of his supervisory
conditions and their potential for dis-inhibition and contribution to further sexual
and other offending.
[20] Dr Lawrence also noted his relatively young age which meant that his age and
maturity were not protective factors which could be taken into account in future
considerations, even though a lengthy sentence had been imposed. Dr Lawrence
also stated that the Respondent lacks reliability and credibility as a historian. She
also considered that he displays significant traits of manipulativeness and
pathological lying which are unlikely to change.
[21] In response to the question of whether she considered that the Respondent‘s present
risk would alter over the next decade, Dr Lawrence replied:
―I think it's clinical wisdom, it's certainly promulgated, that age may
have some modifying effects on the personality and that is clearly a
person - I think most of the evidence suggests that the number of
crimes, et cetera, that people commit are much more frequent in
early life rather than in middle or late life, so that's the sort of
evidence that there is. But I believe that and I think there is
considerable evidence in the literature as well as clinical experience
that suggests that whilst some of the behaviour might moderate, the
underlying personality characteristics of the individual don't change.
So it just sort of goes underground or is, perhaps, less evident in
terms of criminal activity. But the other thing I think that should be
borne in mind with this man is that I think I estimated that he would
be only about 43 or something about that age if he were to serve the
current sentence and be released, 43 is not very old in these days and
certainly couldn't affect his, his sexual drive.‖ 1
[22] Dr Lawrence stated that she could not identify and factors which would cause the
current risk to reduce over the next decade.
1 T1-10, lines 18-35.
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[23] Dr Lawrence, however, made it clear in cross examination that none of the actuarial
tools which were used to predict risk were designed to be used to ―assess a person's
risk ten years hence after a period of imprisonment.‖2 Dr Lawrence also conceded
that the tools had been formulated based on North American prison populations and
were based on studies of prisoners who had been released rather than a group who
would be incarcerated for another decade. She stated:
―I don't think there's been anything that will without, without risk,
predict the future immediately. These are, these tools are designed to
highlight risk factors which, to assist people in identifying the things
that may be able -well, need to be managed, perhaps, addressed, or
which need to be, perhaps, supervised closely. They are directed
towards both short term risk as well as, I believe, the longer term
risk, but they're not going to be able to predict "This man is going to
definitely commit a crime within a short space of time", nothing can
do that.‖3
[24] Dr Lawrence indicated, however, that her assessment of risk was not simply based
on the actuarial tools. She said:
―One would make the assessment using all tools, not just the
actuarial ones, but applying your clinical knowledge and skills as
well for the information that you've got at that particular time, that
will hopefully allow you to make some, admittedly somewhat broad,
that is low, moderate, severe or high risk, if you like, comments
about the likely behaviour of this person, or the risks of him re-
offending, but that will also occur in the, cover the short, medium
and, perhaps, the longer term period as well.‖ 4
[25] Dr Lawrence also conceded that events could occur in the next ten years that could
change the risk such as a head injury.
―If he damages part of his brain, things will change quite
dramatically. There may well be other factors affecting his health
which could intervene. I don't know what the future holds. I don't
have a crystal ball.
He may well benefit from a high intensity Sexual Offenders
Program?-- I doubt it, but combined with maturity, he may appear to
benefit. I would have reservations about accepting the stated or - his
- particularly his statements about the perceived benefits that he
might state or appear to receive from a sexual offenders program. I
believe he's a highly intelligent person. My experience is that such
people, knowing what is involved and what the stakes are, cannot
always be relied on to be honest.‖5
2 T1-14, line 46.
3 T1-14, lines 47-56.
4 T1-15, lines 44-52
5 T1-18, line 50 to T1-19, line 5.
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[26] Dr Lawrence also conceded the possibility that a lengthy prison sentence could have
a deterrent effect.
―All right. Would you, in those circumstances, concede that the
salutary deterrent effect of that sentence is a significant factor as to
the likelihood of him re-offending in a sexual way?-- I can't say just
how he's going to react, but I would not rely on the salutary effect of
deterrence to expect and rely on change in his personality. Just what
that change will be, I can't say. I don't have a crystal ball.
Would you agree that in 13 years' time, his risk is likely to be less
than it is now if he was released into the community now?-- I would
expect that it would be marginally less, but I think it should be
reassessed closer to the time, and that all of these past factors must
be taken into account
....
I would much prefer to do an assessment closer to the time of his
release.‖6
[27] Dr Lawrence was also asked to explain the fact that the Respondent obtained good
exit reports from the Sexual Offenders' Treatment Program.
―Are you able to offer an explanation for that, having regard to his
personality construct, as you see it?-- Well, I think - as I said, I think
he's highly intelligent and I believe that if, at the time that he did
those, he was hoping to get parole and an earlier release, he would
behave himself in that program. So, he would comply. And I think
he was able to - would be able to learn the things - the things to say
and to report which would give him a good report doing that
program, and even though the facilitators of those programs in their
exit report try to be as honest as possible, they cannot always detect
reliably or sufficiently to report even underlying concerns that they
may have about the reliability or the amount of change that some of
these people have achieved through participation in the program. So,
I find that most of the people that I've assessed have good reports.
Some have some reservations expressed about them, but I think that
they tend to get good reports because they have tried to benefit from
the program. The other factor, though, that pertains for Mr
Kanaveilomani, I believe, is that he has the ability, both by his
intelligence and his personality, to know the right things to say and
do when questioned about this sort of area, and I don't think that's
necessarily reliable – or his statements are reliable.‖7
[28] Dr Lawrence conceded that the actuarial instruments and assessments might be the
subject of improvement in the next decade and that there could be an improvement
in sex offender courses, particularly those for psychopaths. However, she
considered that there were certain aspects of the Respondent‘s personality that
would not change and that he would continue to receive a high score because ―they
6 T1-19, lines 40-57 and T1-20, lines 22-23.
7 T1-22, line 39 to T1-23, line 3.
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are essentially the part of the emotional core or the personality of this individual and
I don't think they are likely to change‖.8
[29] Dr Lawrence concluded that she regards the Respondent as a very high risk of
reoffending sexually and that the risk is likely to continue. She considered that it is
far more probable than not, that the risk will remain high at the time of his future
eligibility for release. She considers that the most likely scenario is that the
Respondent will rape a female stranger in her own home possibly with the use of a
weapon, accompanied with threats.
The evidence of Dr Beech
[30] Dr Beech‘s reports indicate that he initially gave the Respondent a score of 27.8 out
of 38 on the Hare Psychopathy Checklist. Dr Beech stated that he regards such a
score as a ‗high‘ score despite it being below the cut off for psychopathy as such a
score ―indicates a high risk for sexual reoffending in rapists.‖9 Dr Beech scored him
on the Static 99 risk assessment tool at 6 which means he has a 33% risk of
reoffending within 5 years. Dr Beech in his oral evidence to the Court indicated that
he considered that a more accurate way to describe that result would be to indicate
―that the risk of re-offending of that group is considered high and in the realm of
twice or more of the base rate of the risk of sex offences generally.‖10 Dr Beech
initially gave the Respondent a Sexual Offender Risk Appraisal Guide (―SORAG‖)
score of 25 which put him in category 8 which gave a 75% risk of violent
reoffending within seven years.
[31] Dr Beech‘s reports indicate that the Respondent has an antisocial personality and
that he displays significant psychopathic traits. Dr Beech was not, however,
satisfied that there was a sufficient basis for a diagnosis of sexual sadism at the
present time. He stated;
―I didn't rule that in and I didn't rule that out. I don't think there is
enough material available to me to confirm that diagnosis. It
requires, I think, some indication that there are thoughts sexes -
sorry, thoughts, images, fantasies and urges towards violence,
intimidation and humiliation, and I can't clearly see that. I have a
suspicion that it's there and the suspicion arises out of the offences in
Toowoomba. It seemed to me that not only were they predatory but
some of the acts involved an attempt to terrorise the woman before
she was assaulted.‖11
[32] Dr Beech considered that there were a range of possible treatment options as
follows:
―I would go back to a high intensity sexual offender program, a high
intensity violent offender program. I would look at more the
prosocial things that he needs to gain over the next couple of years,
which is education, employment, you know, employment skills. I
would look at drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs and then
8 T1-27, lines 50-52.
9 Report of Dr Beech, dated 26 September 2010, page 29.
10 T1-48, lines 8-10.
11 T1-48, lines 25-34.
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during the course of his incarceration involve him in maintenance
programs for that. But given his high psychopathy rating and given
his very high, not high but very short time in which he re-offended, I
would be sitting down with him and doing some intensive cognitive
therapy. I know Professor James talked about - sorry, Professor
Nurcombe talked about psychonamic therapy, I would be looking at
cognitive therapy. I'm more convinced by the researcher Steven
Wong in Canada that if you meet with psychopaths and you need to
treat them, the best tactic is to talk with them about what is in their
best interests when they are released into the community, and I think
you have to sit down with Mr Kanaveilomani and talk about what is
in his best interests next time he gets released, and that would be not
to sexually offend otherwise he's going to be back in prison for a
long time again. That if he wants to have sex with women, you
know, he is a fit man, he's reasonably good looking, there would be
better ways to arrange sexual liaisons than these drunken or
predatory sexual sprees.‖12
[33] Dr Beech, however, ultimately considered it would be difficult to make predictions
over the next 13 years taking the Respondent‘s age at release into account. Dr Beech
also referred to the research which indicated ―that people did change‖13 but
considered that the Respondent would be a risk of further sexual offending on
release. In particular, Dr Beech noted that the prison reports before the
Respondent‘s release were pretty good and that his prison reports soon after he
returned to prison and his current prison reports were all good. It would seem,
therefore, that although the Respondent does well in prison, as soon as he is
released, he faces a range of destabilising factors and does not react well to
supervision.
[34] Dr Beech considered that the Medium Intensity Sexual Offender Treatment
Program he did prior to his release in 2008 was probably inadequate for him. Dr
Beech also noted that the Respondent had done a violence program, a cognitive
skills program, as well as an anger management and a drug and alcohol program. Dr
Beech stated that what came out in the Sexual Offender Program were his attitude
of sexual entitlement and his tendency to minimise the range of his offences. He
stated that those issues would need to be the focus during any high intensity
program. He also considered that an important factor would be the Respondent‘s
relapse prevention plan, and the things that he would need to do when released so
that he would not re-offend.
[35] Dr Beech stated that what cannot be predicted currently is the way in which the
Respondent may change over the next 10 years which would act to decrease the
assessed risk. Dr Beech‘s evidence in this regard was as follows:
―how would Mr Kanaveilomani present in November 2023 when he's
to be released?-- Well, I think that is the difficulty. The difficulty is
in 13 years' time, 10 years' time you talk with him, you say - you
could realistically say, "Listen, he's done all the programs. His
prison behaviour has been very good. He's now a mature prisoner,
12 T1-49, lines 25-49.
13 T1-50, line 14.
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compliant with all the rules, and during that time he has completed
his construction course and he's done a number of other vocational
programs". The difficulty is you would be saying, "Okay, but this
looks a lot like it was back in 2009, doing very well, do up some
plans, he has a number of skills and strategies, but if we release him
how do we know he won't do the same thing again?", which is as
soon as he gets out, resists restrictions, resists parole, doesn't take up
the drug and alcohol programs or the vocational programs that he is
supposed to do and instead pushes to go ahead and drink with his
mates and friends and very quickly returns to his earlier lifestyle, and
I don't know how you would judge that all things being equal at the
moment.
All you have but is someone who is at high risk of sexual re-
offending?-- Yes.‖14
[36] Dr Beech stated that in his view, there was currently no way of assessing whether
any treatment would be successful short of releasing the Respondent. He considered
that ―The difficulty is not knowing how he might have changed or what other
factors may have changed in ten years' time.‖15 In terms of what factors would need
to change he stated:
―I think, and I mean I guess I can generate a romantic notion, if you
like, which would be along the lines that he meets up with other
Fijian elders, he is then returned to a religious basis for his beliefs, he
moves from construction, then takes up, given a job as a carer for
one of the elderly prisoners and over time people are astounded by
the empathy that he has been able to develop, take responsibility for
his actions, things like that, that at the end of it you say, ‗Well, he
has done very well. He's surprised us. There's a number of things
that he's put in place which look very good. Over the years he's
pursued his training and courses and now he's actually established
that he can work and he's actually got some good prospects for
employment. All those things that I can see make me think, gee, he
has done better and his risk of re-offending has reduced‘, but the
biggest difficulty is I don't know how they would stand up once he
faces the destabilising factors that he would on release.‖ 16
[37] Ultimately, Dr Beech considered that an assessment of risk on release would need to
be done closer to release date. He stated, however, that ―what‘s known is that on an
actuarial basis, in 10 years‘ time, he would still be within the group viewed as being
at high risk of re-offending.‖17 In terms of his current risk, Dr Beech stated that he
considered that the Respondent was currently a high risk of reoffending sexually if
released from custody and that the offence was likely to be a violent rape.
The evidence of Professor Nurcombe
14 T1-51, lines 9-30.
15 T1-51, lines 42-44.
16 T1-51, line 45 to T1-52, line 5.
17 T1-53, lines 11-13.
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[38] Professor Nurcombe indicated that he had initially assessed the Respondent whilst
he was an inmate of the Youth Detention Centre whilst he was incarcerated for the
first offences. Dr Nurcombe indicated that he then did a full assessment in relation
to the DPSOA in August 2010 which he ultimately revised in his subsequent report
in 2012. He indicated that he initially assessed the Respondent‘s score under the
Hare Psychopathy Checklist as between 17 and 19 out of a possible score of 40. Dr
Nurcombe stated that he revised that score in 2012 to a score of 31 out of 40 which
meant that the Respondent qualified for a diagnosis of psychopathy. Dr Nurcombe
was asked to explain the revision in the scores.
―What motivated you to make the changes between 17 to 19 on the
one hand and 31 on the other?-- Fuller knowledge of the nature of
the offence which I didn't have, did not have complete information
about that on the first, in the first assessment.
How is that relevant?-- Well, it had to do largely with the nature of
the offence, it's the planning involved in it, and the degree to which I
thought that Mr Kanaveilomani's glibness had essentially conned me
into making certain evaluations initially which I changed afterwards.
How do you mean "conned" you?-- Well, I think that Mr
Kanaveilomani is able to role play certain attitudes, that he is, has
learnt how to say what he needs to say to gain a certain end. He's an
impressive looking man and he comes through with great sincerity in
what he says.
So how did that affect your assessment?-- Well, I think I was
conned.‖18
[39] Dr Nurcombe diagnosed the Respondent as suffering a paraphilia, sexual sadism,
possible voyeurism, antisocial personality disorder and psychopathic personality
disorder. Dr Nurcombe differed from Dr Lawrence in that he considered that there
were both paraphilia and sexual sadism on the basis that there have been three
episodes of rape, including two episodes of sadistic rape and a third episode which
he took to be an abortive rape. Dr Nurcombe stated that he considered that the
Respondent had behaved in an extremely violent manner towards three women. He
indicated that sexual sadists gain sexual gratification from the infliction of pain and
domination and it is the dominating and degrading of the woman which is
significant. He considered that there was evidence of those elements in this case.
[40] Dr Nurcombe also explained the manifestations and implications of an antisocial
personality disorder and a psychopathic personality disorder manifest in the
following terms;
―Well, antisocial personality disorder grows out of conduct disorder
which is a diagnosis associated with childhood and adolescence,
chronic rule breaking, stealing and disruptive behaviour in children
and adolescents then goes over into or progresses into chronic
antisocial behaviour in adulthood with rule breaking and other forms
of antisocial behaviour.
18 T1-31, lines 13-32.
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And the psychopathic aspect?-- About 60 per cent of the prisoners in
a prison are diagnosed as having antisocial personality disorder,
that's been consistent throughout the world, and about 20 per cent of
people with antisocial personality disorder have the more highly
developed psychopathic personality disorder which is characterised
by those different facets of behaviour which are fully described in
the Hare Psychopathy Checklist.
So of that 60 per cent 20 per cent of that 60 per cent have, are
psychopaths?-- Yes.
And so what does that mean for that subset of persons with antisocial
personality disorder that have psychopathic personality disorder?-- It
means that they are less likely to be available for treatment and often
they may appear to improve but their improvement is not
authentic.‖19
[41] Dr Nurcombe also indicated that he had also considered that there was an Axis 1
diagnosis of possible voyeurism as he believed that there was a voyeuristic aspect in
the offending behaviour, as there is evidence of the Respondent hanging around
outside houses to find a victim, a suitable victim, perhaps to see the victim
undressing or to see them through the window. He also considered this behaviour to
be an aspect of the sexual sadism.
[42] In terms of possible treatment, Dr Nurcombe stated that it would be essential that
the Respondent complete a high intensity sex offender treatment program and that
those who treat him need to be sceptical about claimed improvements. He stated
that they need to be more focused on concrete matters, rather than issues like
empathy and remorse, which he did not think the Respondent was capable of at the
present time. He also considered that he would like the Respondent to be in an
―individual, dynamically oriented psychodynamic psychotherapy to explore the
relationship between this man's attitude towards his violent father, his unfaithful and
abandoning mother, and the other terrible events that happened to him when he was
cut loose by his family, allowed to wander on the streets of Suva.‖20
[43] Dr Nurcombe concluded that even if all of these resources were applied to the
Respondent he would be ―sceptical it would be effective, but I would always be
positive about the possibility‖.21 He indicated ―I don‘t think it‘s likely to change but
I can't say it would not change.‖22 In this regard, he referred to a study done in 1999
by Seto and Barberry which ―found that people with a psychopathic personality who
had been exposed to a Sexual Offenders' Treatment Program and appeared to have
done well were, in fact, four times as likely as other offenders in that treatment to
reoffend.‖23 He considered that the risk was that the Respondent, on release, would
re-offend by way of breaking in and being sexually sadistic towards a woman.
19 T1-32, lines 21-45.
20 T1-34, lines 11-16.
21 T1-34, lines 38-39.
22 T1-34, line 58 to T1-35, line 1.
23 T1-35, lines 5-9.
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13
[44] Dr Nurcombe gave his ultimate opinion on the likelihood of improvement in the
next decade, particularly in terms of the Respondent‘s possible maturity as follows:
―Well, if maturity means age - if you mean by maturity, moral
maturity and so forth, I doubt whether that's going to happen. It
might. I wouldn't preclude it, but I think it is unlikely. On the other
hand, with age, as sexual impulses dampen down, rape becomes less
likely, certainly after the age of 45.
So, Mr Kanaveilomani might only be about 42 or 43 when he is
released in 2023?-- So, he will be on the cusp of when sex impulses
are less intense.
Dr Lawrence seemed to suggest that the real features that would be
effective to reduce his risk would be decline in health?-- Certainly
that occurred, yes.
Or a head injury?-- Yes.
Other than that, Dr Lawrence seemed to be reasonably pessimistic
about Mr Kanaveilomani's prospect of risk reduction with the mere
passage of time. Do you agree with that - do you agree with that
evidence?-- Well, she mentioned two different possibilities of things
that could happen. It is possible that this man might respond to the
combination of treatments I've suggested - it's possible. I wouldn't
preclude that.‖24
[45] Dr Nurcombe indicated that whilst the Respondent had completed the Medium
Intensity Sex Offenders Program in gaol in 2008, he had not completed the High
Intensity Sex Offender Treatment Program in custody, which is what he considered
should have been provided.
[46] Dr Nurcombe considered that the Respondent may in fact be deterred from
offending by the fact that he has once again been sentenced to a substantial period
of imprisonment for his current offences. Dr Nurcombe stated that the Respondent
may desist given ―The pay off of the pleasure of hurting women versus the
displeasure of being in prison for 13 years.‖25 He considered that there may be some
change if there was some effective personal deterrence particularly if combined
with a reduced sexual desire. He also indicated that ―It is possible that his
manipulativeness and pathological lying and his glibness could be reduced over
time, particularly if he responds to therapy. It's possible.‖26
[47] Whilst Dr Nurcombe noted the Respondent‘s excellent progress in vocational
programs in prison, including a medium intensity sex offender program, he also
noted that on parole, the Respondent objected to supervision and drank alcohol.
[48] Dr Nurcombe was also asked a number of questions about the reliability of the
actuarial instruments that were currently in use in the following terms:
24 T1-36, lines 1-25.
25 T1-38, lines 50-52.
26 T1-39, lines 25-28.
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14
―Can you see any difficulties with using the actuarial instruments to
assess the risk that the respondent might present if released from
custody some 13 years hence?-- Yes, I see several.
And what are those?-- Well, first of all these actuarial instruments
were developed upon North American and to some extent British
population, Canadian, basically, Canadian and to some extent British
populations, whether they refer to the Australian population as a
whole we don't know, whether they refer in particular to indigenous
people we don't know. Now some work is about to be done in
Canada with regard to the Inuit and American and Canadian Indian
populations, but even if that work is known whether it applies to
Australian Aboriginal or Melanesian populations is an open question.
So that's a problem.
That's a problem which is there generally with respect to the use of
the instruments in relation to different populations than those which
were the subject of the studies?-- Yes.
But can I also ask you about any particular difficulties in using such
instruments to assess a risk, a future risk which will be deferred some
13 years from the time of the use of the instrument?-- Yes. There
are two points that I can make about that, and that is most of the
instruments only predict up to ten years, but the Static 99 2003 does
predict up to 15 years, but it's important to note that the prediction
has to do with groups of prisoners not with an individual prisoner.
Whether those figures apply to a specific individual is not clear
because that specific individual may have other factors which are
highly relevant to a prediction that are not included in the
instruments.‖ 27
[49] Dr Nurcombe also considered that ―it would be most unfair to make an assessment
of risk factors that ignored what might occur over the next 13 years‖.28 Dr
Nurcombe, however, stated that given the Respondent‘s psychopathic personality,
the risk of sexual violence soon after release is very high. In terms of the
Respondent‘s current risk, Dr Nurcombe stated that he considered that he ―remains
a very high risk of enacting violent sexual fantasies if released‖. 29
The Statutory Scheme
[50] There is no doubt that, in order to provide for the adequate protection of the
community, the DPSOA legislation establishes a scheme for the continued detention
in custody or supervised release of prisoners who have previously committed
serious sexual offences and are deemed to be at risk of committing serious sexual
offences if released, or if released without appropriate supervision. Significantly, the
legislation also aims to facilitate the rehabilitation of those prisoners by providing
control, care or treatment. Those objects as set out in s 3 of the DPSOA are:
27 T1-42, lines 22-54.
28 T1-43, lines 10-13.
29 Report of Professor Nurcombe, dated 25 August 2012, at page 10.
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15
(a) ―to provide for the continued detention in custody or supervised
release of a particular class of prisoner to ensure adequate protection
of the community; and
(b) to provide continuing control, care or treatment of a particular class
of prisoner to facilitate their rehabilitation.‖
[51] The Attorney General then has the responsibility for making an application pursuant
to s 5 of the DPSOA as follows:
“5 Attorney-General may apply for orders
(1) The Attorney-General may apply to the court for an order or
orders under section 8 and a division 3 order in relation to a
prisoner.
(2) The application must—
(a) state the orders sought; and
(b) be accompanied by any affidavits to be relied on by
the Attorney-General for the purpose of seeking an
order or orders under section 8; and
(c) be made during the last 6 months of the prisoner‘s
period of imprisonment.
(3) On the filing of the application, the registrar must record a
return date for the matter to come before the court for a
hearing (preliminary hearing) to decide whether the court is
satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for believing the
prisoner is a serious danger to the community in the absence
of a division 3 order.
(4) The return date for the preliminary hearing must be within
28 business days after the filing.
(5) A copy of the application and any affidavit to be relied on
by the Attorney-General must be given to the prisoner
within 2 business days after the filing.
(6) In this section—
prisoner means a prisoner detained in custody who is
serving a period of imprisonment for a serious sexual
offence, or serving a period of imprisonment that includes a
term of imprisonment for a serious sexual offence, whether
the person was sentenced to the term or period of
imprisonment before or after the commencement of this
section.‖
[52] The orders which may be granted under the DPSOA as ―Division 3 orders‖ are
usually ‗continuing detention orders‘ pursuant to s 13(5)(a) or ‗supervision orders‘
pursuant to s 13(5)(b). Section 13 of the DPSOA is in the following terms:
―13 Division 3 orders
(1) This section applies if, on the hearing of an application for a
division 3 order, the court is satisfied the prisoner is a
serious danger to the community in the absence of a division
3 order (a serious danger to the community).
(2) A prisoner is a serious danger to the community as
mentioned in subsection (1) if there is an unacceptable risk
that the prisoner will commit a serious sexual offence—
-- 15 of 22 --
16
(a) if the prisoner is released from custody; or
(b) if the prisoner is released from custody without a
supervision order being made.
(3) On hearing the application, the court may decide that it is
satisfied as required under subsection (1) only if it is
satisfied—
(a) by acceptable, cogent evidence; and
(b) to a high degree of probability;
that the evidence is of sufficient weight to justify the
decision.
(4) In deciding whether a prisoner is a serious danger to the
community as mentioned in subsection (1), the court must
have regard to the following—
(aa) any report produced under section 8A;
(a) the reports prepared by the psychiatrists under
section 11 and the extent to which the prisoner
cooperated in the examinations by the psychiatrists;
(b) any other medical, psychiatric, psychological or
other assessment relating to the prisoner;
(c) information indicating whether or not there is a
propensity on the part of the prisoner to commit
serious sexual offences in the future;
(d) whether or not there is any pattern of offending
behaviour on the part of the prisoner;
(e) efforts by the prisoner to address the cause or causes
of the prisoner‘s offending behaviour, including
whether the prisoner participated in rehabilitation
programs;
(f) whether or not the prisoner‘s participation in
rehabilitation programs has had a positive effect on
the prisoner;
(g) the prisoner‘s antecedents and criminal history;
(h) the risk that the prisoner will commit another serious
sexual offence if released into the community;
(i) the need to protect members of the community from
that risk;
(j) any other relevant matter.
(5) If the court is satisfied as required under subsection (1), the
court may order—
(a) that the prisoner be detained in custody for an
indefinite term for control, care or treatment
(continuing detention order); or
(b) that the prisoner be released from custody subject to
the requirements it considers appropriate that are
stated in the order (supervision order).
(6) In deciding whether to make an order under subsection
(5)(a) or (b)—
(a) the paramount consideration is to be the need to
ensure adequate protection of the community; and
(b) the court must consider whether—
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17
(i) adequate protection of the community can be
reasonably and practicably managed by a
supervision order; and
(ii) requirements under section 16 can be
reasonably and practicably managed by
corrective services officers.
(7) The Attorney-General has the onus of proving that a prisoner is a
serious danger to the community as mentioned in subsection (1).‖
Issues:
[53] The real issue in this application is whether the DPSOA applies in the particular
circumstances of this case and whether a Division 3 Order should be made. The
legislation is clearly directed at a ―particular class of prisoner‘‘. That is, a prisoner
who ―is serving a period of imprisonment for a serious sexual offence‖. The
Respondent is not currently serving a period of imprisonment for a serious sexual
offence and he is not in the last six months of that period of imprisonment. He is,
however, serving a long period of imprisonment and will not realistically be
considered for release for another decade.
[54] There is no doubt, however, that the Respondent was a prisoner for the purposes of
the legislation at the time the application was filed. The question is whether that is
sufficient not only to trigger an application pursuant to the DPSOA legislation but
also to make the Respondent subject to a Division 3 order whilst he is also serving a
current term of imprisonment.
The Applicant’s arguments
[55] Counsel for the Applicant notes that the term ‗prisoner‘ is defined in s 5(6) of the
DPSOA as a ―prisoner detained in custody who is serving a period of imprisonment
for a serious sexual offence, or serving a period of imprisonment that includes a
term of imprisonment for a serious sexual offence‖ and that pursuant to s 13(2),
such a prisoner is a serious danger to the community as mentioned in s 13(1) if
―there is an unacceptable risk that the prisoner will commit a serious sexual
offence‖ if released from custody or released without a supervision order. Counsel
argues that in this case the application has been validly brought pursuant to s 5 of
the DPSOA and that the question of unacceptable risk therefore has to be
determined ―now‖ and not at the time of the Respondent‘s release from the current
term of imprisonment in a decade.
[56] Counsel argues that if there is an intervening term of imprisonment, the reference to
‗release from custody‘ in s 13(2)(a) and (b) DPSOA cannot be ―temporally
restricted to a release from custody from that particular term of imprisonment, and
the section didn‘t apply unless he was going to be released from custody as opposed
to serving another sentence‖. Counsel therefore submits that the question is whether
there is an unacceptable risk that the Respondent will commit a serious sexual
offence if he was released from custody now and that the overwhelming evidence is
that he is such an unacceptable risk and that a continuing detention order should be
made.
[57] Counsel argues that the continuing detention order would take effect once the
Respondent has served his current term of imprisonment as s 14(1)(a) of the
DPSOA provides that ―a continuing detention order has effect in accordance with its
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18
terms – on the order being made or at the end of the prisoners period of
imprisonment, whichever is the latter.‖ In this case, it would be at the end of the
period of imprisonment. A supervision order has effect pursuant to s 15 of the
DPSOA ―on the order being made or on the prisoner‘s release day, whichever is the
later‖. A ‗release day‘ is defined in the Schedule to mean ―the day on which the
prisoner is due to be unconditionally released from lawful custody under the
Corrective Services Act 2006‖.
[58] Counsel for the Applicant then argues that once a continuing detention order is
made it must be reviewed at regular intervals in accordance with s 27 of the
DPSOA. Section 30 then provides that at those reviews the Court may only affirm
the decision that the prisoner is a serious danger to the community in the absence of
a Division 3 order if satisfied by acceptable, cogent evidence to a high degree of
probability of all the relevant matters as required by s 13(4). Section 30(3) of the
DPSOA provides that if the Court affirms the decision it may order that the prisoner
continue to be subject to a continuing detention order or be released from custody
subject to a supervision order. Accordingly, Counsel submits if the periodic reviews
of the continuing detention order do not result in the rescission of the order, then it
will remain in place. It may well be that when his fulltime release date is reached,
the Respondent will remain in custody pursuant to the continuing detention order if
it has not been rescinded.
[59] In terms of the discretion in s 13(3) Counsel for the Applicant submits that the
respondent is clearly very dangerous and is currently an unacceptable risk of
committing further serious sexual offences if he were to be released from custody
now. Counsel argues that all of the psychiatrists accept that conclusion on the
evidence as it currently stands and have also indicated that future treatment will be
―difficult‖. Counsel for the Applicant accepts that all the psychiatrists acknowledge
that there is a prospect that ―there might be advancements which might render this
very dangerous man an acceptable risk.‖ Counsel argues that should such advances
be made and they in fact reduce the risk then that prospect will be examined in the
periodic reviews over the coming decade. Accordingly it is argued that all of the
requirements of the DPSOA have been satisfied and a continuing detention order
should now be made.
Should a Division 3 Order be made?
[60] I am satisfied that a valid application has been made pursuant to s 5(2)(c) of the
DPSOA as the Attorney General has made the application in the last six months of
the prisoner‘s period of imprisonment.
[61] I am satisfied that the Respondent was a ―prisoner‖ as defined by s 5(6) of the
DPSOA at the time the application was made as he was at that time a prisoner
detained in custody serving a period of imprisonment for a serious sexual offence.
[62] The next question for the Court therefore is whether the requirements of s 13(1)
DPSOA have been satisfied? That is whether the Court is satisfied that the
Respondent prisoner is a serious danger to the community in the absence of a
Division 3 Order. Section 13(2) of the DPSOA provides that a prisoner is a serious
danger to the community if there is an unacceptable risk that he will commit a
serious sexual offence if released from custody or if released without a supervision
order.
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19
[63] It would seem therefore that the real question in this application is whether I can be
satisfied to a high degree of probability that the Respondent is currently a serious
danger to the community if released from custody without an order being made
under Division 3 of the DPSOA. It is clear that the Attorney General has the onus of
proving that matter. As McMurdo J stated in Attorney General for the State of
Queensland v Sutherland30:
―[27] The court can be satisfied as required under s 13(1) only upon the basis of
acceptable, cogent evidence and if satisfied ―to a high degree of probability that
the evidence is of sufficient weight to justify the decision.‖ Those requirements
are expressed within s 13(3) by reference to the decision which must be made
under s 13(1). They are not made expressly referable to the discretionary
decision under s 13(5). The paramount consideration under s 13(5) is the need
to ensure adequate protection of the community. Subsection 13(7) provides that
the Attorney-General has the onus of proving the matter mentioned in s 13(1).
There is no express requirement that the Attorney-General prove any matter for
the making of a continuing detention order, beyond the proof required by s
13(1). So s 13 does not expressly require, precedent to a continuing detention
order, that the Attorney-General prove that a supervision order would still result
in the prisoner being a serious danger to the community, in the sense of an
unacceptable risk that he would commit a serious sexual offence. However in
my view, such a requirement is implicit within s 13.‖
[64] The unanimous view of all of the reporting psychiatrists is that the Respondent is
currently a serious danger to the community. I am satisfied that such a finding can
currently be made by acceptable, cogent evidence having had regard to all of the
factors the Court must have regard to pursuant to s 13(4) of the DPSOA. Clearly the
evidence of all of the psychiatrists as set out in these reasons does not allow for any
other conclusion. I consider that there is ample evidence to support such a finding to
a high degree of probability at this point in time.
[65] The next question which needs to be considered is the type of order the Court
should make pursuant to s 13(5) of the DPSOA. The section requires the Court in
deciding whether to make an order under subsection (5)(a) or (b) to take into
account the fact that the paramount consideration is to be the need to ensure
adequate protection of the community and the court must consider whether adequate
protection of the community can be reasonably and practicably managed by a
supervision order.
[66] This question was examined by Chesterman JA in Attorney-General (Qld) v
Lawrence31 as follows;
[28] Section 13(7) explicitly places on the Attorney-General the onus
of proving that a prisoner is a serious danger to the community, ie
that there is an unacceptable risk that he will commit a serious sexual
offence if released from custody or released without a supervision
order. As the trial judge pointed out if the Attorney discharges that
onus the Court is then empowered pursuant to s 13(5) to make a
continuing detention order or a supervision order or, perhaps, no
order. The latter possibility comes from the use of the permissive
30 [2006] QSC 268.
31 [2009] QCA 136.
-- 19 of 22 --
20
―may order‖ in terms of (a) or (b). In Fardon Gleeson CJ thought
that the Act conferred:
―a substantial discretion as to whether an order should be made, and if so,
the type of order.‖ (592)
McHugh J thought that:
―... if the Court finds that the Attorney-General has satisfied that standard,
the Court has a discretion as to whether it should make an order under the
Act and, if so, what kind of order (s 13(5)).‖ (597)
[29] The trial judge thought that it was ―an open question whether
the s 13(5) discretion extends to making no order‖. The opinions just
quoted reinforce my own, formed from the terms of s 13(5), that the
court may make no order despite being satisfied that the prisoner in
question poses a serious danger to the community; though it is to be
expected that it will be rare indeed for a court to make no order
where the finding is made. The point does not arise in the present
appeal and need not be considered further.
[30] What is in issue is whether the Attorney-General, having
discharged the onus referred to in s 13(7), must persuade the court
that one or other of the orders specified in s 13(5) should be made. In
my opinion he must. Such a conclusion accords with the orthodox
legal convention that the party who makes an application must
satisfy the court that the order sought should be made. The authors of
Cross on Evidence Australian edition put it shortly:
―For a fundamental requirement of any judicial system is that the person
who desires the court to take action must prove the case to its
satisfaction.‖ [7060]
The authorities cited, Dickinson v Minister of Pensions [1953] 1 QB
228 at 232 and Currie v Dempsey (1967) 69 SR (NSW) 116 at 125
are civil cases but the principle is obviously of wider application.‖
[67] I consider that s 13(5) of the DPSOA vests a clear discretion in the Court in terms of
what order should be made or indeed if any order should be made all. The onus is
on the Applicant to establish the basis for the order sought. The question for
determination therefore is whether the Applicant has satisfied that onus to the
requisite standard and established that a continuing detention order is currently
required.
[68] As Counsel for the Respondent has argued, the real issue is whether any order under
s 113(5) of the DPSOA should in fact be made. Whilst I accept that the Respondent
is currently ―a serious danger to the community in the absence of a division 3 order‖
he is not about to be released because he is serving a further period of imprisonment
and is incarcerated. When one examines the requirements of s 13(5) there is no
doubt that the focus of the subsection is on determining how the risk that the
prisoner currently poses can be managed to ensure the adequate protection of the
community. The underlying assumption is clearly that if a Division 3 Order is not
-- 20 of 22 --
21
made there will be a risk that the prisoner will commit another serious sexual
offence. In the present case the Respondent does not present such a risk as he is
incarcerated. A Division 3 Order will make no difference in managing the current
risk that the Respondent poses to the community. A Division 3 Order will in fact
have no current utility. If a Division 3 Order is not made the risk to the community
will be no greater. There is no need for a continuing detention order or a supervision
order under the DPSOA as the Respondent is serving a period of imprisonment
imposed by the District Court. Any current risk to the community is in reality being
managed by corrective services officers in his current custodial setting.
[69] Despite the fact that the Division 3 Order will have no current utility, the Applicant
argues that the order should still be made given the risk is so high and there is no
real likelihood that circumstances will change in the next decade. Should the order
be made despite the fact it will have no real impact until the Respondent is released?
Is the state of affairs so certain that the Court would be satisfied about the risk that
the Respondent will pose in 2023?
[70] Having considered the evidence of the psychiatrists in relation to the Respondent‘s
risk over the coming decade I am satisfied that the following issues are raised as a
result of that evidence:
(i) The Respondent may benefit from the High Intensity Sex
Offenders Treatment Program over the next decade.
(ii) The Respondent may benefit from individual, dynamically
oriented, psychodynamic psychotherapy.
(iii) The Respondent may benefit form cognitive therapy over the
next decade.
(iv) The Respondent may experience a decline in sexual desire
around the age of 45.
(v) The current lengthy prison term may act as a personal
deterrent.
(vi) There may be advances in the development of courses for sex
offenders particularly sex offenders those with psychopathic
traits.
(vii) There may be an improvement in the use and predictability of
the actuarial assessments to assess risk in the next decade.
(viii) The current risk of sexual re-offending may reduce should the
Respondent suffer a decline in health or a brain injury.
(ix) There may be advances in the medications used to treat sex
offenders in the next decade.
(x) Whilst all the psychiatrists are sceptical about the possibility
of the Respondent‘s risk changing over the course of the next
10 years none of the psychiatrists were prepared to rule out
the ―possibility‖ of the risk changing.
(xi) None of the actuarial tools which were used to predict risk
were designed to be used to assess a person's risk ten years
hence after a period of imprisonment.
[71] Accordingly, given the presence of those factors, I cannot be satisfied by cogent
evidence to a high degree of probability that the evidence is of sufficient weight to
justify a decision that the Respondent will be a serious danger to the community in
2023. That may well be the position in 2023 but there are currently too many
variables to be satisfied of that question to a high degree of probability.
-- 21 of 22 --
22
[72] Significantly, even if I was satisfied that the Respondent would be a serious danger
to the community in 2023 in the absence of a Division 3 Order, given the
uncertainty in relation to those factors it would be impossible to determine whether
the final order should be a continuing detention order pursuant to subsection (5)(a)
of s 13 of the DPSOA or a supervision order pursuant to subsection 5(b). Indeed,
the factors I have identified in paragraph [70] may well determine the questions
posed in s13(6)(b) of the DPSOA as to whether the adequate protection of the
community ―can be reasonably and practicably managed by a supervision order‖
and whether the requirements under s 16 ―can be reasonably and practicably
managed by corrective services officers‖.
[73] In my view, whilst the Applicant has satisfied the requirements of s 13(1) of the
DPSOA, the Applicant has not satisfied me that an order should be made pursuant
to s 13(5) of the DPSOA given both the lack of certainty about the nature and
management of the risk and the lack of utility in the order. I consider that this is
indeed the type of case foreshadowed by Chesterman JA in AG (Qld) v Lawrence
where his Honour indicated that ―it is to be expected that it will be rare indeed for a
court to make no order where the finding is made‖.32 In the present case, despite a
finding that the Respondent is a serious danger to the community, I am not satisfied
that the Applicant has discharged the onus referred to in s 13(7) of the DPSOA that
one or other of the orders specified in s 13(5) should be made.
[74] Given my finding that the Respondent is currently a serious danger to the
community should he be released from supervision without a Division 3 Order it
would seem abundantly clear that an evaluation of the issue of the risk he poses to
the community at that point in time should be revisited prior to his fulltime release
date in 2023. It would seem to me that the current legislation does not allow for
such a possibility. In terms of whether the application should be adjourned pursuant
to s 9A of the DPSOA to a date in 2023 Counsel for the applicant has indicated that
as the Applicant is a model litigant, an order which would see the current
application lie in abeyance for more than a decade, is not sought.
[75] Whilst I consider that no order should currently be made pursuant to s 13(5) of the
DPSOA, I will hear submissions from Counsel as to the final form of orders.
ORDERS:
1. I will hear from Counsel as to the final form of the orders.
32 [2009] QCA 136 at [29].
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Official source: https://www.sclqld.org.au/caselaw/QSC/2013/086