Attorney-General for the State of Queensland v Hynds & Anor (No 3) [2012] QSC 318
SUPREME COURT OF QUEENSLAND
CITATION: Attorney-General for the State of Queensland v Hynds &
Anor (No 3) [2012] QSC 318
PARTIES: ATTORNEY-GENERAL FOR THE STATE OF
QUEENSLAND
(applicant)
v
GREGORY ALAN HYNDS
(first respondent)
and
KELVIN ANDERSON (as Chief Executive Officer of
Queensland Corrective Services)
(second respondent)
FILE NO: BS 7584 of 2007
DIVISION: Trial
DELIVERED ON: 19 October 2012
DELIVERED AT: Brisbane
HEARING DATE: 12 – 14 February 2012; 17 February 2012; 2 March 2012; 21
March 2012; and 28 May 2012
JUDGE: Fryberg J
ORDERS: 1. Rescind the continuing detention order made on 7
December 2007;
2. Order that Gregory Alan Hynds be released from
custody subject to the requirements set out in
Schedule A to the order;
3. Order that this order have effect for 10 years; and
4. Stay the operation o f paragraph 1 of this order until
Mr Hynds is released under paragraph 2; and
5. Liberty to apply generally.
CATCHWORDS: Criminal Law – Sentence – Sentencing orders – Orders and
declarations relating to serious or violent offenders or
dangerous sexual offenders – Relevance of public
expectations
– – – – Continuing detention order – Review – Failure of
State to provide judicially-specified treatment
– – – – Supervision order – Acceptance of undertaking from
related person
– – – – – Requirements – Delegation of judicial discretion
to Corrective Services officer
Corrective Services Act 2006, s 341(3)(e)(ii)
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2
Dangerous Prisoners (Sexual Offenders) Act 2003, s 8A,
s 13, s 27, s 29, s 30
Attorney-General for the State of Queensland v Francis
[2006] QCA 324, considered
Attorney-General for the State of Queensland v Hynds
[2007] QSC 374, considered
Attorney-General for the State of Queensland v Hynds
[2009] QSC 355, considered
Attorney-General for the State of Queensland v Hynds (No 1)
[2012] QSC 55, cited
Attorney-General for the State of Queensland v Hynds (No. 2)
[2012] QSC 56, considered
Attorney-General for the State of Queensland & Anor v
Sambo [2012] QCA 171, followed
Hynds v Chief Executive, Department of Corrective Services
[2006] QSC 21, considered
Regina v Gregory Alan Hynds (unreported, NSW Court of
Criminal Appeal, Gleeson CJ, Mahoney JA and Smart J,
4 June 1991, 1989/60573), cited
The Attorney-General for the State of Queensland v Hynds
[2010] QSC 436, considered
COUNSEL: A D Scott for the applicant
S Ryan for the first respondent and on his own behalf
S Hamlyn-Harris for the second respondent
SOLICITORS: Crown solicitor for the applicant
Legal Aid Queensland for the first respondent
Crown solicitor for the second respondent
[1] FRYBERG J: By application filed on 21 November 2011 pursuant to s 27(2) of
the Dangerous Prisoners (Sexual Offenders) Act 2003, the Attorney-General has
applied for a periodic review of the detention order made by this court in respect of
the first respondent on 7 December 2007. He seeks an order that Mr Hynds
continue to be subject to the continuing detention order or alternatively that he be
released from custody subject to a supervision order.
[2] At the outset of the hearing I raised one important matter relevant to public
perceptions of the proceedings with counsel for the Attorney-General:
―HIS HONOUR: I should therefore say publicly that I am conscious
that a week or so ago the Premier made a public statement saying
that it was time the Courts took public expectations into account in
deciding these applications. I am conscious of the degree of pressure
that statements like that impose upon me. I would ask if the
Attorney-General adopts the same attitude in this application as was
reported to have been expressed by the Premier?‖
After some ducking and weaving, counsel for the Attorney assured me that his
client did not adopt the view that the law permitted me to take public expectations
into account. After that assurance, counsel for Mr Hynds expressly agreed that I
hear the matter notwithstanding the above disclosure. I have decided the case on
the basis that public expectations are irrelevant.
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[3] Notwithstanding the fact that the order first took effect in February 2008 this is only
the third application for an annual review. The history of Mr Hynds' incarceration
is somewhat unusual and it is desirable to record it in one place.
The original offending
[4] Mr Hynds' offending arose in the course of two separate incidents on 3 April 1987
and 9 December 1988. Until his conviction for the first of those incidents, he had
no criminal history.
The first incident
[5] The events of 3 April 1987 led to eight charges in the Supreme Court of New South
Wales, to which Mr Hynds pleaded not guilty. The charges were subsequently
described by the sentencing judge:
―The most serious of the charges is that you attempted to strangle
[the victim] with intent to murder her [ie attempted murder]. In
addition, you were convicted of threatening to inflict actual bodily
harm upon her by means of an offensive weapon with intent to have
sexual intercourse with her, four further charges of having sexual
intercourse with her without her consent, and one charge of
attempting to have sexual intercourse with her without her consent.
A further charge of attempted murder, involving the use of a knife,
led to a verdict of acquittal.‖
At the time of the offending Mr Hynds was serving in the Royal Australian Navy.
The victim was the wife of one of his fellow servicemen. On the night in question
the husband went clubbing with Mr Hynds, leaving his wife and baby at home.
After saying he was going to the toilet, Mr Hynds left the club, went to the victim's
house, tricked her into admitting him and then threatened and assaulted her in a
manner described by the sentencing judge as ―demeaning and humiliating in the
extreme‖. After he became concerned that the victim would report his conduct,
―what can only be described as a struggle of quite amazing violence and ferocity
took place‖. It may be inferred that her life was saved only by the timely arrival
home of her husband.1
[6] At the trial Mr Hynds claimed that he went to the victim's home because he had had
a previous intimate relationship with her, that they were having consensual sex
when her husband returned home and that it was he who had injured Mr Hynds and
who must have beaten up his wife after Mr Hynds‘ departure.
[7] At the time of sentencing at the beginning of December 1989, Mr Hynds was aged
28 and married, with one child and a stepchild. The sentencing judge was so
shocked by the violence, both sexual and physical, which Mr Hynds displayed ―to
quite a frightening degree‖ that she concluded that it must have been indicative of a
serious mental or emotional disturbance. She sought several psychiatric
assessments during the sentencing process. They proved to be of little assistance
due to Mr Hynds‘ continuing insistence on his innocence. These assertions gave the
1 The circumstances of both incidents are described in more detail in Attorney-General for the State of
Queensland v Hynds [2007] QSC 374.
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4
judge the impression that Mr Hynds genuinely believed them. He was quite without
remorse.
[8] The judge imposed cumulative sentences the total net effect of which was a
minimum term of imprisonment of 12 years with an additional term of 2½ years.
The second incident
[9] The second incident occurred while Mr Hynds was on bail in respect of the first
incident. Mr Hynds pleaded guilty to one charge of enticing away for an abduction
[sic] and another of rape. He pleaded not guilty to threatening to inflict bodily harm
by a knife with intent to have intercourse and to one count of oral intercourse. He
was convicted on all charges.
[10] The offences had what the learned District Court judge who sentenced Mr Hynds
described as ―a disturbing similarity‖ to those of the first incident. They were the
outcome of careful and deliberate planning over a period of some days. The victim
was again the wife of a fellow servicemen who Mr Hynds knew was away on a
course in Sydney. Her name was similar to that of the first victim. Mr Hynds or an
accomplice telephoned the victim and told her that her husband had been involved
in a motor vehicle accident, and that the Navy was arranging to fly her to Sydney.
He then went to her home in a Navy vehicle, picked her up, drove her to a deserted
and isolated airfield and committed the offences with the aid of a knife.
[11] For each of the four offences Mr Hynds was sentenced in mid-December 1989 to
concurrent terms of five years imprisonment, to be served cumulatively upon the
earlier term. Thus, his total period of imprisonment was 17 years with an additional
term of 2½ years.
The appeal against sentence
[12] In June 1991 the Court of Criminal Appeal dismissed Mr Hynds' appeal against
sentence. In the course of delivering the reasons for judgment of the court,
Mahoney JA said:
―No explanation has been given by the applicant, by those who are
associated with him in relation to the matter, or by the expert
witnesses who have been asked to explain what he did. Nothing has
been put forward to suggest that what was done was other than
deliberate wrongdoing … .
Like Mathews J I wonder what happened. One can only hope that
with some assistance whilst in prison the applicant may be able to
make something of what may be left of his life after his release.‖2
The interstate transfer
[13] In 1996 Mr Hynds was transferred to prison in Queensland from New South Wales
in accordance with the Prisoners (Interstate Transfer) Act 1982 (NSW).
2 Regina v Gregory Alan Hynds (unreported, NSW Court of Criminal Appeal, Gleeson CJ, Mahoney
JA and Smart J, 4 June 1991, 1989/60573).
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5
The application for remission
[14] In August 2005 Mr Hynds became eligible to be considered for remission under the
Corrective Services Act 2000. His application for remission was refused on the
ground that the decision maker was not satisfied that his discharge posed no
unacceptable risk to the community. He applied to this court to have that refusal
judicially reviewed. As the judge found:
―[9] The decision maker discussed a psychologist‘s report dated 15
June 2005. He noted that according to that report, the applicant
had claimed to the psychologist that his offences were not of a
sexual nature; instead the applicant had said that he was
motivated by revenge because of a betrayal in the context of
illegal drug activity. He further noted that the applicant had told
this psychologist that he could not say that if faced with the same
circumstances he would not act in the same way. He noted that
in an earlier psychologist‘s report (2002), the applicant is
recorded as having said that he would ‗react in a similar manner
if faced with the same situation again‘.‖
This version of the first incident was, of course, quite different from the one which
he gave at his trial.
[15] The court held that no ground for reviewing the decision had been demonstrated.3
The continuing detention order
[16] By mid-2007, Mr Hynds had served about 19 years imprisonment. In August of
that year, the Attorney-General applied to this court for a continuing detention order
under s 13(5) of the Act. As it happened, the application came before me.4 On the
evidence I found that Mr Hynds was a serious danger to the community in the
absence of a Division 3 order. Indeed, Mr Hynds admitted as much. The issue was
whether there should be a supervision order or a continuing detention order. In
relation to the first incident, Mr Hynds now claimed that he himself had no direct
contact with the victim, but rather forced her husband to perform a number of sexual
acts upon her. He claimed to be unable to recall the events surrounding the second
incident. He had completed a number of courses in prison, but not the Sexual
Offenders Treatment Program, due to his refusal to admit guilt in relation to the first
incident. In the circumstances I held that refusal was irrational. He had a minimal
breach history and a low security classification. He was examined by three
psychiatrists all of whom diagnosed Antisocial Personality Disorder
notwithstanding his refusal to cooperate fully with them (he would not discuss
certain areas of his life). Two of them thought it was not possible to formulate a set
of conditions which, if Mr Hynds adhered to them, would provide adequate
protection to the community. Mr Hynds' failure to give evidence at the hearing was
a problem. I observed:
―He has chosen, quite deliberately, not to give evidence. I can only
assume that nothing he has to say will improve his position in
relation to these matters.‖
3 Hynds v Chief Executive, Department of Corrective Services [2006] QSC 21.
4 Attorney-General for the State of Queensland v Hynds [2007] QSC 374.
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6
[17] On 7 December 2007 I made a continuing detention order because I found that Mr
Hynds‘ risk of recidivism was unacceptable. As to the form of the order, I held:
―An order must therefore be made under paragraph (a). That order
must be for one or more of the purposes of control, care or treatment.
There is no evidence that Mr Hynds needs any care. That was
common ground. Mr Hynds has persistently and consistently refused
to undergo the SOTP course, and I see no prospect of his changing
his attitude. There is no suggestion that any other treatment is
necessary or desirable. There is, therefore, no point in my making an
order for the purpose of treatment.
Adequate protection of the community can be ensured by ordering
that he be detained in custody for an indefinite term for control.‖5
That is the order now to be reviewed.
The first review
[18] In 2008 and 2009, s 27 of the Act provided:
―(1) If the court makes a continuing detention order, the court must
review the order at the end of 1 year after the order first has
effect and afterwards at intervals of not more than 1 year after
the last review was made while the prisoner continues to be
subject to the order.‖
[19] Accordingly, on 11 February 2009 the Attorney-General filed the necessary
application. In substance it sought the same orders as the present application. It did
not come on for hearing until 5 March 2009. It was then adjourned until 16 July,
when it was further adjourned part heard until 14 August. Judgment was delivered
on 9 November 2009.6 The reasons for judgment record what seems to have been
Mr Hynds‘ then-current version of his offending:
―[22] On a number of occasions, Mr Hynds has given differing
accounts of the events associated with the offences. On one
account, he says that, although he was serving in the Navy, he
was associated with a man who was a ‗loan shark‘ and drug
dealer. Mr Hynds acted as a debt collector and drug courier for
this man. His debt collecting activities involved significant
violence, including clubbing people with a baseball bat. Mr
Hynds claimed that he had not received an amount of between
$15,000 and $20,000 of the money which had come due to him
from this work. According to Mr Hynds, the drug dealer told
him that the money had been given to the first victim‘s
husband. Mr Hynds then had to wait some time before he
contacted this man. In that period, he became agitated and
angry. On the day of the offences he went to the house, found
the husband and tied him to a chair. He ‗then proceeded to
question him with violence‘. According to Mr Hynds, the wife
5 Emphasis added. The engrossed form of order wrongly stated that he be detained for control, care or
treatment. On 2 March 2012 it was corrected on the application of Mr Anderson under r 388 of the
Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 1999.
6 Attorney-General for the State of Queensland v Hynds [2009] QSC 355.
-- 6 of 52 --
7
was visiting neighbours. Mr Hynds then went and found her,
and she returned to the home with him. He then tied her up,
and tortured both the husband and wife. He subsequently
forced them to perform sexual acts upon one another, but
denied that he had participated in any sexual activity himself.
[23] Mr Hynds associated the 1988 offences with the account he
gave of the events leading up to the 1987 offences. He states
that he initially thought the victim of the 1988 offences was the
same person as the victim of the 1987 offences. He seemed to
suggest that the 1988 offences were a consequence of his belief
about the conduct of the husband of his first victim. However,
he says that when he went to the house of the second victim he
was shocked when he found out that it ‗was the wrong person‘,
but nevertheless went ahead with his plan. He says that he has
no memory of the events for much of the night of the 1988
offences.‖
[20] It had been recommended that Mr Hynds undertake a High-Intensity Sexual
Offenders Program, but he had not done so. The judge explained the reason which
he advanced for that:
―The course is apparently only available at the Wolston Correctional
Centre, and at the Lotus Glen Correctional Centre outside Mareeba.
Mr Hynds has stated that he is willing to do the HISOP, but is not
prepared to go to the Wolston Correctional Centre because the
majority of prisoners who undertake the course there are child sexual
offenders with whom he is not willing to associate, and because he
does not want to be regarded as a ‗protected‘ prisoner. He is,
apparently, prepared to undertake the HISOP at Lotus Glen, but that
facility is intended for indigenous offenders.‖
[21] The judge summarised the evidence of the three psychiatrists at some length. It is
unnecessary to repeat that summary. Two of the psychiatrists considered that Mr
Hynds might well benefit from a treatment program. Dr Madsen, a clinical forensic
psychologist7, gave evidence of sex offender programs available outside prison.
[22] The judge rejected a submission that Mr Hynds' attitude to the program in prison
reflected an attempt to manipulate the process. He held:
―[62] I am not prepared to be critical of Mr Hynds‘s attitude to
undertaking the program at Wolston Park. It may be the case
that Mr Hynds in truth is not prepared to undergo such a
program, and that his conduct is simply designed to give as
good an appearance as possible to his conduct. On the other
hand, there may well be rational bases for his position. One
may be that if he commences the program, and does not
complete it, his position may be worse. Another may be that if
he undertakes the program, but is not released, life in prison
may become more difficult for him.‖
7 Not a medical practitioner. ―Dr‖ refers to his Ph D degree.
-- 7 of 52 --
8
Nonetheless, in view of the fact that the program had not been undertaken and in
the light of the two psychiatrists' opinions, his Honour ordered that Mr Hynds
continue to be subject to the continuing detention order.
The second review
[23] By application filed on 11 October 2010 the Attorney-General again applied for a
continuing detention order or in the alternative a supervision order in respect of Mr
Hynds. That was just inside the period of 12 months after the delivery of judgment
on the first review. The application was heard on 29 October 2010. For the
purposes of that review Mr Hynds chose not to be legally represented. Again there
was no real dispute that there was an unacceptable risk that he would commit a
serious sexual offence if released from custody without a supervision order being
made, and the judge so stated in a judgment delivered on 24 November 2010.
Again the issue was whether there should be a supervision order or a continuing
detention order. I shall refer to the reasons for judgment in some detail.
[24] Some things had not changed since the previous hearing:
―[6] The case for making a continuing detention order, during which
time the respondent receives individual counselling of a kind
that he has not previously received whilst in custody, rather
than making a supervision order, arises principally from the
absence of any proper explanation as to why the respondent
committed serious sexual offences in the late 1980‘s. Despite
the long period that has passed since he was convicted and
sentenced for those offences, considerable uncertainty exists
about the respondent‘s motivation in committing those crimes
and, accordingly, what may prompt him to behave in the same
or a similar way if released into the community under a
supervision order. This significant element of unpredictability
affects the assessment of risk and the extent to which a
supervision order would reduce that risk. In particular, it may
be difficult for those with responsibility to monitor the
respondent under a supervision order to detect early warning
signs of re-offending. This is because the matters that
motivated the respondent to offend in 1987 and 1988 remain
something of a mystery. There is considerable uncertainty
whether he may offend again, and, if so, what would motivate
him to do so.‖
[25] Two matters particularly concerned the judge at the second review. One was Mr
Hynds' reluctance to undertake a High-Intensity Sexual Offenders Program as a
group exercise in which other members of the group were child sex offenders with
whom he did not wish to associate and reside. Mr Hynds' attitude had not changed
since the first review. That was an aspect of the second matter, the need for
immediate therapy ―to better understand who he is, what motivated him to commit
the crimes that he did and whether such triggers to offending behaviour still exist
and can be adequately addressed by a supervision order‖.
[26] Like the judge who conducted the first review, his Honour was not prepared to be
critical of Mr Hynds' attitude toward undertaking the program. He observed that
-- 8 of 52 --
9
there was a difference of opinion between the two reporting psychiatrists, Professor
James and Dr Harden, about the benefit that Mr Hynds would derive from
undertaking the program at that stage. Professor James thought it unlikely that he
would get any benefit and his Honour accepted that evidence in preference to that of
Dr Harden.
[27] His Honour considered the evidence of the two psychiatrists at some length. I shall
not attempt to summarise his discussion.8 It repays careful reading. He accepted
Professor James‘ opinion about Mr Hynds‘ unpredictability, a situation largely
brought about by his unwillingness to be open and frank with the psychiatrists. He
wrote:
―[67] In his oral evidence Professor James elaborated on the issue of
unpredictability, including that the offences were unpredictable
at the time, came 'out of the blue' in which the respondent had
no past history of offending. The 1987 offences were 'an
eruption of something extraordinary' and involved great
violence.
[68] As against the element of unpredictability is the fact that the
respondent‘s behaviour in custody has been good particularly
over the past eight to ten years. Professor James recognised
that the opportunity to offend whilst in custody was limited.
However, whilst in custody the respondent has had
relationships that involve close personal contact including
dialogues with psychologists each fortnight for about an hour
over the last few years. Professor James could find 'no hint at
all of any record of perceived menace or aggressiveness or
chauvinism.'
[69] As to a supervision order in the context of unpredictability,
Professor James remarked that there were a few 'clear flags' that
could be conveyed to correctional services officers supervising
the respondent. These included the abuse of intoxicating
substances. Otherwise it would be very difficult to know what
might serve as alerts. Professor James explained that the
respondent was capable of careful advance planning and had an
ability to deceive people in terms of his seemingly innocent
intentions, as reflected in his offences. I have quoted at the
start of this judgment an important passage of evidence given
by Professor James concerning the issue of unpredictability and
the difficulty of predicting the respondent‘s future behaviour
because of a lack of knowledge of who the respondent is, how
he behaves, risky situations and early warning signs.‖
[28] On that basis the question became how best to deal with the situation. His Honour
wrote:
―[71] When asked about the best modality, Professor James stated
that it would be individual therapy. I shall quote his evidence,
which I accept:
‗The best modality would be individual therapy of an
exploratory kind specifically devoted to exploratory kind.
8 [2010] QSC 436 at [51]-[72].
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10
If the witness undertakes the offender treatment program I
appreciate it is not entirely restricted to matters of physical
sexuality, I understand that. But, I think there are many
more issues to explore with Mr Hynds that would be better
explored in, to use the word again, exploratory one-to-one
psychotherapy. There are issues that, for whatever reason,
and I outlined some possible reasons in my report, that he
does not want to reveal and would do so, in my view,
better under the conditions of one to one therapy where he
has worked out who can be trusted, what can be trusted
and again, as I have put in my report, under conditions
with a defined degree of confidentiality. I think it doesn't
have to be a total degree of confidentiality but at least one
that is defined and that he would find acceptable before
revealing whatever the things are that he doesn't reveal.‘
[72] Professor James supported the recent proposal that experienced
psychologists provide therapy to the respondent at Borallon.
He described it as a very useful way to proceed if its aim was
'specifically exploratory as opposed to didactic and rather
rigidly cognitively based'. When asked whether such therapy
should be part of a supervision order or something that took
place prior to release on supervision Professor James stated:
‗I think it would be better in terms of improving the degree
of possible predictability if that happened before he left
prison, or was at least started and reasonable progress
made.‘ ‖9
[29] His Honour described the matter as ―a troubling case‖. He continued:
―It is a very serious matter to continue the respondent‘s detention in
custody in circumstances in which he has undertaken a large number
of measures directed towards his rehabilitation, has well-developed
and realistic plans for his release, has family and financial support
upon release, has advanced legitimate reasons to not participate in a
HISOP at Wolston Park, has responded positively to sessions
provided by probationary psychologists in recent years and is an
exemplary prisoner who in custody has given no hint of 'perceived
menace or aggressiveness or chauvinism' (to quote Professor
James).‖10
[30] Nonetheless he continued the detention order. He did so in part because Mr Hynds
was willing to engage in a therapeutic relationship with a suitably qualified and
experienced forensic psychologist. That was a reference back to what his Honour
described as Mr Hynds‘ acceptance of ―the proposal of having Dr Madsen or Dr
Palk undertake an assessment and for a plan to be developed in the immediate future
that would provide a structure for his release on conditions‖. His Honour thought
that desirable:
9 Emphasis added.
10 [2010] QSC 436 at [82].
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11
―Under such conditions the respondent may be prepared to be open
about areas of his life, including his career in the Navy, the true
extent of violence inflicted by him as a debt collector, the
circumstances of his sexual offences and what triggered him to
commit them. There is, however, no guarantee that accounts given
by the respondent to an experienced forensic psychologist will be
reliable. The respondent‘s interests would be well-served by his
engaging legal assistance to make a formal application for release of
records relating to his military service. The disclosure of reliable
information to an experienced psychologist providing individual
treatment to the respondent may serve to fill significant gaps in
information concerning the respondent‘s life, his military service, the
circumstances surrounding his offending, whether the matters that
triggered his offending still exist and, if they do, how a supervision
order might be framed to minimise the risk of such events.‖11
[31] In the course of the hearing, Mr Hynds had been critical of Corrective Services‘
failure to provide such therapy in the past. His Honour accepted that criticism and
found it ―unfortunate‖ that Mr Hynds had not received such individual treatment in
the preceding 12 months.
[32] His Honour summarised the reasons for his order:
―[90] In summary, an individual therapy program received initially
in custody carries some prospect that the respondent will be
prepared to discuss aspects of his life that he has not been
prepared to discuss with psychiatrists appointed for the
purpose of the Act (which does not involve a therapeutic
relationship). The results of such an individual treatment
program will inform the assessment of risk and assist those
who may be required to monitor the respondent under a
supervision order to detect early warning signs of re-
offending. It will assist the formulation of the terms of any
supervision order to ensure that the respondent avoids triggers
to re-offending (in addition to those already identified such as
alcohol and drug abuse) and for those with responsibility to
supervise the respondent under any supervision order to
identify potential triggers.
…
[93] As will be apparent from my reasons, I am satisfied to the
requisite standard that the respondent is a serious danger to the
community in the absence of an order pursuant to Division 3
of the Act. I affirm the decision made by P Lyons J on 9
November 2009 that the respondent continue to be subject to a
continuing detention order for his care, control or treatment.
As also will be apparent from my reasons, an important reason
for my decision to order that the respondent be subject to a
continuing detention order is so that he can receive the kind of
individual treatment which Professor James considers
11 Ibid at [85] (emphasis added).
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appropriate, and that he be assessed by an experienced and
suitably qualified forensic psychologist, as proposed in the
affidavit of Joel Brady Smith filed 26 October 2010. Because
my orders are based upon the anticipated provision of such
treatment to the respondent, being treatment to which he
consents, I shall record the same in my formal orders. I shall
also make provision for liberty to apply. Such liberty to apply
may be resorted to by either party in the event that the
respondent is not offered such treatment in a timely way, or
declines without reasonable explanation, to receive such
treatment.‖
[33] So far as is presently relevant, his Honour ordered:
―3. Pursuant to s 30(3)(a) of the Act, the respondent, Gregory
Alan Hynds, continue to be subject to a continuing detention
order for his care, control or treatment, and that such treatment
include the provision as soon as reasonably practical of
assessment and treatment by an experienced forensic
psychologist of the kind stated in paragraphs 5-7 of the
affidavit of Joel Brady Smith filed 26 October 2010, and
individual psychotherapy of the kind proposed by 31
Professor Basil James in his oral evidence given 29 October
2010 … .‖
[34] With the benefit of both hindsight and subsequent enlightenment from above, it can
now be seen that there were three defects in that order.
[35] First, it assumed that the existing order was for ―care, control or treatment‖ whereas
in fact it was for control only. It contained no provision for care or treatment.12 It
might have been argued that his Honour's reasons were inconsistent with continued
detention solely for that purpose. However Mr Hynds resisted his Honour's urging
that he obtain legal representation, and such an argument was not raised. There was
no suggestion before me that the Department's failure to provide treatment before or
after the second review was the result of the terms of the detention order. On the
contrary, departmental officers stressed the efforts which they had made in regard to
the provision of treatment in accordance with his Honour's order.
[36] Second, it is now known that the court has no power to impose obligations on the
Department of Corrective Services.13 The order should not be construed as having
done so. That does not materially affect the disposition of the proceeding before
me. Departmental officers accepted that in the circumstances they should have
provided the treatment to which the order referred. Speaking at a more general
level, it is evident that the court is not without a means of remedying omissions to
provide treatment:
―[24] There may be cases in which departmental recalcitrance, in
relation to the rehabilitative treatment of a prisoner in
continuing detention, will give rise to a question on subsequent
review by the court as to whether the continued detention of the
12 Paragraph [17].
13 Attorney-General for the State of Queensland & Anor v Sambo [2012] QCA 171 at [19].
-- 12 of 52 --
13
appellant is justified under the Act. It must always be borne in
mind, in this regard, that one of the purposes of the regime of
post-sentence detention established by the Act is treatment of
the prisoner.‖14
[37] Third, the order referred to the provision of assessment and treatment of the kind
described in the affidavit of Joel Brady Smith filed on 26 October 2010. Mr Smith
was employed in the High Risk Offender Management Unit (―the unit‖), a section
within Queensland Corrective Services. Prisoners detained under the Act are
managed by the unit. Relevantly Mr Smith had deposed:
―7. Dr Madsen and Dr Palk have both indicated they would be able
to attend upon the respondent at Borallan Correctional Centre
for an initial appointment, with a view to undertaking an
extended assessment process at which time a treatment plan
will be recommended to QCS.‖
His Honour referred to that evidence in his reasons for judgment15, but it is quite
clear that what he envisaged the psychologists doing was undertaking an
assessment for a plan to be developed in the immediate future that would provide a
structure for release on conditions.16 Nothing in his reasons for judgment suggests
that he envisaged the psychologists providing treatment save to the extent that
therapeutic intervention was necessary in order to induce Mr Hynds to be frank and
to reveal more about himself. He specifically accepted Professor James' evidence
that the aim of any therapy should be ―exploratory as opposed to didactic and rather
rigidly cognitively based‖.17
[38] Subsequent events have demonstrated that it was unfortunate that the order was not
more precise.
Events between the second and third reviews
[39] The judge reserved his judgment at the end of the hearing on 29 October 2010. On
3 November 2010, while the decision remained reserved, Mr Smith contacted Dr
Madsen by e-mail to ascertain his availability for a possible referral of Mr Hynds
for individual treatment. According to the evidence of Ms Roberta Embrey Dr
Madsen responded by e-mail on 9 November. That e-mail was not tendered in the
proceedings before me. According to Ms Embrey‘s affidavit, Dr Madsen advised
―that he would need to complete a full range of assessments on the
respondent if he was to become the respondent's treatment provider.
Dr Madsen indicated that the purpose of the assessment was to
identify reasonable targets for treatment, and also potentially
highlight a pathway to achieve such. Further in this correspondence,
Dr Madsen advised that he was available and able to plan to
commence the process from January 2011.‖
[40] The judgment on the second review (and, presumably, the reasons for it) were
received by the unit on the day on which they were published, 24 November 2010.
14 Attorney-General for the State of Queensland v Francis [2006] QCA 324.
15 [2010] QSC 436 at [11].
16 Paragraph [30].
17 Paragraph [28].
-- 13 of 52 --
14
The need for a psychological assessment of Mr Hynds to be arranged promptly
ought to have been appreciated immediately. Unfortunately, the evidence of what
happened thereafter was hearsay, unreliable, partly speculative and generally
unsatisfactory.
[41] Ms Embrey did not identify in her affidavit precisely how the unit responded to the
court's order. In oral evidence she claimed that it made a commitment with
Dr Madsen ―largely by telephone‖ that he would commence the process in January,
or at least that ―that was our understanding‖. Dr Madsen denied that he made any
such commitment. He said that he was overseas in January 2011 and that he would
not have agreed to see Mr Hynds at that time.
[42] There are a number of difficulties with Ms Embrey's version. Mr Smith's approach
to Dr Madsen was about a ―possible‖ engagement. It seems unlikely that any firm
arrangement would have been made before publication of the reasons for judgment
on 24 November. Ms Embrey deposed that ―records indicate‖ that Mr Smith
contacted the general manager at Brisbane Correctional Centre to make
arrangements for Mr Hynds' transfer to Brisbane Correctional Centre (for the
purposes of the assessment). No such record was tendered and I note that the
transfer did not take place until 24 February 2011.18 Before me, Mr Smith gave no
evidence about these matters, although his affidavit of 25 October 2010 was in
evidence. In these circumstances I prefer the evidence of Dr Madsen. I find that no
arrangement was made regarding when Dr Madsen would see Mr Hynds until
February 2011.
[43] Dr Madsen interviewed Mr Hynds at Brisbane Correctional Centre at weekly
intervals from and including 2 March 2011 to 6 April 2011, for a total of 8½ hours.
He subsequently reported that he had been requested to address the following areas:
the offender's profile;
reason for offending;
future risk;
treatment needs; and
likelihood of engagement in treatment.
That request was in terms much wider than was necessary to implement the court's
order. It opened the way to a report which would undermine that order and the
reasons for it. Mr Smith provided no evidence to explain this variation.
[44] Following the interviews, Mr Hynds was returned to Borallan Correctional Centre
in April 2011.
[45] Dr Madsen delivered his report to the unit on 22 June 2011 (no one had suggested to
him there was any urgency about it). I shall refer to it in more detail below.19 He
reported that he had read psychological reports made in 2002 and 2005, two
psychiatric reports prepared for the original hearing in 2007, two psychiatric reports
by Dr Sundin of 2007 and 2008 and two reports prepared by Dr Harden in 2009 and
2010. I infer that he was provided with these reports by Mr Smith. He was
apparently not told that Dr Sundin's evidence had been rejected by the court (indeed,
it is not too strong to say it had been discredited) in the first review. He was not
provided with Professor James' 2010 report nor was he told that this report had been
18 Exhibit RE-1 filed 21 November 2011.
19 Paragraphs [112] ff.
-- 14 of 52 --
15
accepted by the court in preference to that of Dr Harden. Indeed, he was not
provided with a copy of the court's reasons for judgment. Those omissions are
astonishing. Neither the Attorney nor the Chief Executive led evidence explaining
them.
[46] The substance of the report occupied 41 pages. It responded to all of the areas
which Dr Madsen had been requested to address. It recommended against Mr
Hynds' participation in any group based sex offender program. It recommended
―that a treatment approach utilising both individual and group treatments staged in a
sequential and graduated manner be considered‖. Treatments recommended
involved cognitive restructuring using schema and cognitive behavioural therapies,
and in particular attending before his release the Cognitive Self-Change Program
run by Corrective Services. The average time for a prisoner to complete that course
is nine months.
[47] According to Ms Embrey the unit saw two difficulties with that report. The first
was placing Mr Hynds in the recommended program. The second was whether the
recommendations were inconsistent with those of Professor James. A month after
the unit received the report, Crown Law referred it to Professor James. He was
requested to provide an opinion as to whether the proposed treatment options
adequately met the issues raised at the second review. He did so by a report dated
21 August 2011. Although he did not say so in as many words, he was plainly of
the opinion that it did not, in that it did not address the issues which he had raised.
He accepted that the results of the various psychometric questionnaires applied by
Dr Madsen contained some important details relevant to the planning of treatment,
and identified those details. However he challenged the theoretical basis, content
and modus operandi of the recommended program. He also identified a number of
issues which were less than optimally addressed.
[48] It is hardly surprising that Dr Madsen made the recommendations which he did and
that Professor James responded as he did. Their approaches to therapy were
fundamentally different. As Dr Madsen put it in his oral evidence earlier this year:
―Professor James made a recommendation regarding the kind of
treatment that would be most appropriate for Mr Hynds. He
described it as unstructured psychodynamic type of treatment.
Through my assessment, I recommended a different type of
individual treatment. This is something called Schema Focus
Cognitive Therapy, and it is a different style. It has similarities to
psychodynamic therapy, but it has got more of a focus, it has got
more of a structure to it, and it is a type of one-to-one intervention
approach that's complex to deliver, but is used in the UK and in
America for individuals who present with complex difficulties and -
like Mr Hynds. That's the approach that I recommended. I can't
speak to Professor James' recommendation in relation to the
unstructured psychodynamic therapy because I am not a
psychodynamic therapist. We're different schools.‖
[49] The problem was inherent in the form of the order made at the conclusion of the
second review. That order did not accurately reflect the reasoning which underlay
it. The difficulty was compounded by Mr Smith's failure to specify to Dr Madsen
that what was required in accordance with the judge's findings was one-on-one
-- 15 of 52 --
16
psychotherapy of an exploratory nature and not cognitive behaviour therapy.
Instead, Dr Madsen was invited to reconsider the whole question of treatment, in
effect starting with a clean slate and disregarding the court‘s reasoning. To make
matters worse he was not provided with a copy of Professor James‘ report which
had been accepted by the court, nor with a copy of the reasons for judgment. Given
their differing approaches to therapy, the disagreement was hardly surprising.
[50] I should add that the question whether Dr Madsen's proposed treatment options
adequately met the issues raised at the second review was also referred to Dr
Harden. Dr Harden's response addressed his letter of instructions literally. The
focus was primarily on whether Dr Madsen's proposed treatment options met the
issues raised at the review, not whether they conformed with the judge's reasons.
He did however express the opinion that Dr Madsen's ―schema focus cognitive
behavioural approach would be as Professor James described it ‗an exploratory‘
approach looking at the underlying beliefs and experiences‖. That view would not
seem to accord with those of the protagonists. Dr Harden expressed general
agreement with Dr Madsen's approach.
[51] Mr Hynds did not submit that the process of briefing Dr Madsen was deliberately
calculated to undermine the approach recommended by Professor James. I pass
over whether the absence of such a submission provides some basis for not
accepting Dr Madsen's diagnosis of paranoid personality disorder. No other
professional expert made that diagnosis. In these circumstances it is unnecessary to
reach conclusions about Mr Smith's state of mind at the time of the briefing.
[52] Notwithstanding its concerns about Dr Madsen's report, the unit seems to have
decided to implement his recommendations. On 21 July it contacted by e-mail Ms
Holly Rogers, a Senior Psychologist employed by SERCO, the private contractor
operating the correctional centre. It drew attention to Dr Madsen's report,
recommended that he be engaged to provide the individual treatment and further
recommended that a QCS staff member work with Mr Hynds on a fortnightly basis
to assist with his homework tasks and liaise directly with Dr Madsen. There was no
response to that e-mail. In the event Dr Madsen was not prepared to undertake the
work until the Department agreed to provide a place for Mr Hynds on the CSC
program. No such agreement was forthcoming until 28 September 2011 when, it
seems, the Department agreed in principle to allow Mr Hynds to attend the program.
By that time the unit had Professor James' comments on Dr Madsen's report and
was aware that the proposed treatment was inconsistent with the former's opinion
and, therefore, with the judge's findings. At a conference held that day, Dr Madsen
agreed to provide the treatment which he had recommended. No date for him to do
so was fixed; the unit did not follow up an e-mail sent to Dr Madsen‘s secretary
requesting an appointment.
[53] By September Mr Hynds was becoming agitated at the lack of action. The case
notes in his offender case file show that on 6 September he requested a lengthy
entry be made as a case note. After referring at some length to the decision of the
second review, he said:
―Now I am faced with a further inept failure by QCS to fulfil last
year's – 2010 – court order in its entirety. It does not isolate those
that are supposed to manage my detention, sentence management or
the high risk offenders unit because both are part of QCS, both
-- 16 of 52 --
17
should be aware of the court orders and the forthcoming [review] in
making sure that such orders are undertaken and fulfil as they do
with other recommendations or orders of either the sentencing court
or QC is that sells IDE – program participation that has been
recommended. But the uniqueness of QCS and the stance they are
above the court and do as they please, is further evidence at present
because such orders of the court last November 2010 were expected
to be fulfilled as soon as reasonably possible. Given it is now
September 2011, the next review is late November, this expectation
to have the orders fulfilled has been an utter failure by QCS to do so
within the last 10 months. I cannot go out and fulfil them as much as
I could and would if allowed to … . Via released into the
community is reliant on these orders being carried out within a
timeframe to allow the necessary psychotherapy to be undertaken
prior to release as such psychotherapy would continue post-release.‖
Mr Hynds' frustration is understandable.
[54] The Department's response to his agitation came on 15 September. On that day Ms
Rogers and the manager of the offender management section had a discussion with
Mr Hynds. He reiterated his refusal to transfer to Wolston and being amongst
paedophiles in order to attend the High-Intensity Sexual Offending Program. It was
decided that Ms Rogers would commence motivational interviewing that day and
continue it every second Thursday (later changed to once a month). After the
October meeting Ms Rogers noted, ―He remains open in his disclosure and
appropriate in his interaction.‖ Despite these meetings, nothing was then said to Mr
Hynds about the decision to provide him with the therapy recommended by Dr
Madsen.
[55] In early October Ms Embrey sent Dr Madsen the transcript of the proceedings and
the reasons for judgment in the second review, Professor James' 2010 report and the
commentaries on his original report which had been provided by Professor James
and Dr Harden. She asked him to review Professor James' comments with a view to
clarifying the issues which he raised. He wrote a response dated 30 October. He
described at some length the differences between schema therapy and conventional
cognitive behavioural therapy and dealt more briefly with other points raised by
Professor James. He does not seem to have been influenced by the court's reasons
for judgment, nor to have perceived the inconsistency between them and the
treatment which he proposed. He again referred to the need for cognitive
behaviourally based intervention to deal with Mr Hynds' anger and violence, noting
specifically that this intervention was not particularly focused on gaining insight.
He did not attempt to reconcile the group nature and the nine-month average
duration of the proposed CSC program with the reasons for judgment. He reiterated
his original opinion.
[56] Meanwhile, Crown Law had begun to focus on the next annual review, which under
amendments to the Act was required to start ―within 12 months after the completion
of the hearing for the last review‖.20 It seems that the view was taken that the Act
would be satisfied if an application was filed before 24 November 2011. In mid-
20 Section 27(1C); it was not submitted by Mr Hynds, either when he was represented by counsel or
after his lawyers withdrew, that the jurisdiction of the court depended upon compliance with that
section by 29 October 2011.
-- 17 of 52 --
18
August 2011 letters were written to Dr Harden and Professor James requesting them
to provide updating risk assessment reports. Professor James examined Mr Hynds
on 14 October; his report was received on 16 November. The application was filed
on 21 November and set for a first hearing on 12 December. Dr Harden examined
him on 26 October and his report is dated 28 November; presumably it was received
before the return date of the application.
[57] Ms Rogers saw Mr Hynds for their monthly session on 16 November. Her case
note of the meeting includes:
―Offender Hynds discussed his court assessment process and the
summaries from reports he had been given copies and discussed his
thoughts in relation to the updated treatment recommendations. He
appeared motivated towards participating in a violence-based
treatment program, however indicated he would much prefer the
opportunity to [do] this in the community. He indicated he is
receptive to ongoing therapy sessions, as proposed and identified that
there are certain aspects he needs to work on.‖
[58] Not until early December was an appointment made for Dr Madsen to see Mr
Hynds; the appointment was set for 14 December. At this stage Mr Hynds had still
not received a copy of Dr Madsen's report. The Department then indicated that it
would offer Mr Hynds a place on the CSC program, but not until after he had seen
Dr Madsen. Unfortunately Dr Madsen cancelled the appointment. (It was
rescheduled but Dr Madsen again cancelled.). Mr Hynds was not told of the
cancellation and turned up at Ms Rogers' office for the meeting. Ms Rogers noted:
―Offender Hynds discussed the outcome of his court appearance21
and details of the affidavit and expected outcomes. He indicated he
is willing to engage in one on one intervention with Dr Madsen and
was able to articulate the benefits of this contact. He also discussed
his thoughts in relation to the likelihood of being recommended for
CSCP. Offender Hynds discussed his preference for completing
proposed intervention in the community. He also discussed concerns
in relation to his age upon release, due to the need to work and
possible struggles of gaining employment if his release is continually
delay. Offender Hynds was polite and open throughout the
interview.‖
[59] Mr Hynds' preference for doing the course in the community is understandable,
given its duration. No doubt that explains why his solicitor notified Crown Law on
13 December that he would prefer to wait until the court had reviewed his detention
before deciding about the course.
[60] Ms Rogers saw Mr Hynds on 20 December to ascertain his willingness to
participate in the CSC program. He told her that he was willing to participate but
did not wish to do so at that time. He saw Dr Madsen on the same day and again in
early February 2012. Dr Madsen subsequently wrote:
"I met with Mr Hynds on two occasions (mid December and early
February) regarding the treatment recommendations, partly to
21 On 12 December the application was adjourned for hearing on 13 February 2012.
-- 18 of 52 --
19
discuss these further with him, though also to determine the viability
of working with him in regards to the identified individual work.
Broadly speaking, Mr Hynds was prepared 'in principle' to engage in
individual therapeutic work, however, disputed the need to complete
the group based interventions.
In terms of the individual work he was prepared to do 'schema
therapy' though stated that he would prefer the treatment
recommended by Professor James, and ideally would like to do this
with him. He did recognise that this was unlikely to occur, and as
such added, that he was 'happy' to work with myself. He stated that
he was unprepared to commence the recommended group work, and
stated that he would dispute this within the court. Mr Hynds
appeared to hold the perception that Professor James was supportive
of him being released and completing his recommended 'unstructured
psychodynamic treatment' within a community-based context. In the
second meeting that I had with Mr Hynds (2 Feb 2012), he again
disputed the need to complete the group treatment and had refused
the opportunity to commence the Violence program. He believed
that he had satisfactorily completed his work within the Violence
Intervention Program (VIP) that he done in the late 1990's. He
reiterated his feelings of resentment, anger and mistrust towards
QCS. Mr Hynds described wanting to 'go after me' in the court, by
this he meant to challenge my conclusions and recommendations.
Curiously, despite his adversarial position within our two sessions he
stated that he would prefer to work with me if he returned to the
community (rather than another psychologist or psychiatrist). When
questioned on how he would cope with a release into the community
he stated that he was unprepared to live at the Wacol prescient due to
the belief that he could become violent if exposed to the individuals
(i.e. child sex offenders) in this environment.
Clearly, I am not the best person to work with Mr Hynds at this time.
Indeed the ongoing uncertainty regarding his circumstances and
situation make any therapeutic engagement with anyone unlikely.
Mr Hynds does not believe that he needs treatment and whilst he
consents to 'do treatment' his behaviour suggests that he is attempting
to 'pick and choose' what this treatment should be. It is
understandable that he would be in this ambivalent-hostile
motivational stance towards treatment considering the ongoing court
matters, and his perception that another expert holds an opinion that
would allow him an earlier release from custody. Until there is
clarity regarding these concerns he is unlikely to change this
position. If he were required to commence the treatment whilst in
custody, I would expect that he would hold me responsible for this
outcome and likely experience strong feelings of resentment and
anger. It would be difficult (likely impossible) to then also hold a
therapeutic relationship with him."
[61] It seems that in January 2012 Crown Law belatedly recognised that nothing had
been done since the second review to provide the psychotherapy recommended by
Professor James. Letters were sent to the Professor and to Dr Harden seeking
-- 19 of 52 --
20
names of practitioners in Brisbane qualified to deliver the therapy, but no one had
been engaged by the time the hearing commenced on the 14th of that month.
The third review hearing
[62] To understand the evidence which was led over the course of the hearing it is
necessary to have some knowledge of how the hearing proceeded. The process,
which took place within the applications list, was to say the least, fractured and
unsatisfactory.
The first three days of the hearing
[63] When the hearing began, both the Attorney and Mr Hynds were represented by
counsel. Two days were allocated for it, although counsel for the Attorney
estimated it could finish in one. Following (or perhaps in the course of) the
opening, counsel for Mr Hynds applied successfully for an order to add Kelvin
Anderson, the Chief Executive, Corrective Services, as a respondent.22 After the
luncheon break, Mr Anderson appeared by counsel. By the end of the day, cross-
examination of one witness, Ms Embrey, had been completed.
[64] On the following day cross-examination of the three expert witnesses (Dr Madsen,
Professor James and Dr Harden) took place. The Attorney then closed his case.
The hearing was adjourned for three days, because there was no spare time in the
applications list until then.
[65] On 17 February the hearing was further adjourned until 2 March due to illness of
counsel for the Attorney-General.
The fourth day of the hearing
[66] On 2 March things got off to a bad start when counsel for Mr Hynds sought leave
for her and her solicitor to withdraw, having consulted senior counsel about the
matter. Afterwards Mr Hynds informed the court that he wished to continue
unrepresented subject only to a short adjournment. Leave was granted.
[67] When the court resumed counsel for the Attorney sought and was granted leave to
reopen his case. He tendered what purported to be a certificate under s 8A of the
Act. After hearing submissions I rejected the tender.23 The case was again closed.
[68] Counsel for Mr Anderson then read his material. It included two affidavits sworn
by Ms Embrey and one by Ms Phelan. Ms Embrey deposed that the unit had made
contact with a psychologist, Dr Susan Boyce, who was willing to provide the
treatment recommended by Dr Madsen. Mr Hynds cross-examined both witnesses.
[69] After Mr Anderson's case was closed, Mr Hynds read a number of affidavits,
including some made by himself and one by Mrs M, his mother. The principal
point of the latter affidavit was to provide evidence of Mr Anderson's agreement to
have Mr Hynds reside at her residence should he be released on a supervision order.
Mr Hynds was cross-examined by counsel for the Attorney and counsel for Mr
22 Attorney-General v Hynds (No 1) [2012] QSC 55; but see now Attorney-General for the State of
Queensland & Anor v Sambo [2012] QCA 171.
23 Attorney-General for the State of Queensland v Hynds (No 2) [2012] QSC 56.
-- 20 of 52 --
21
Anderson. Counsel for the Attorney then stated that he required Mrs M, for cross-
examination. It being nearly 5.00pm, the further hearing of the matter was
adjourned to a date to be fixed.
The fifth day of the hearing
[70] The first available day for the resumed hearing was 21 March 2012. That date was
selected well in advance but unfortunately, no notification of it was given to Mr
Hynds. The first he knew about it was late on 20 March, when he was hastily
transferred from the South Queensland Correctional Centre at Gatton to Brisbane
Correctional Centre. He had no opportunity to notify his mother or to secure her
attendance for cross-examination. Nonetheless, with the assistance of lawyers for
the other parties Mr Hynds was able to contact her and she became available for
cross-examination at about 4.15pm.
[71] In the meantime counsel for Mr Anderson sought and obtained leave to reopen his
case to recall Ms Embrey. She testified in her evidence-in-chief that Dr Boyce had
seen Mr Hynds two days previously and proposed to continue to see him either in
prison or at her rooms on a fortnightly basis. She said that Dr Boyce also had the
skills necessary to provide the psychotherapy as recommended by Professor James.
The precise form of intervention would be a matter for the therapist's discretion.
[72] Ms Embrey also testified as follows:
―Now, are you aware of a proposal by Mr Hynds that he - if he's
released that he reside with his mother?-- I am aware of that.
I think you gave evidence on the last occasion about the issue of a
decision being made by Queensland Corrective Services about what
is referred to as disclosure, that is, disclosure of some information
about Mr Hynds to neighbours?-- That's correct.
Can you update the Court on what, if anything, has happened since
the last hearing in relation to that?-- Yes, since that time a
conversation has been had with a delegate regarding whether or not
they would approve disclosure in this circumstance and the response
was that disclosure would be - would occur for Mr Hynds if he were
to reside with his mother.‖
[73] That evidence was referable to the power of the Chief Executive contained in
s 341(3)(e)(ii) of the Corrective Services Act 2006 to authorise disclosure of
confidential information. I understood it, as did counsel for the Chief Executive
and, I am sure, the other parties, to mean that the delegate had decided that if a
supervision order were made, disclosure would occur.
[74] I shall refer to the cross-examination of Mrs M in greater detail below. For present
purposes it is enough to refer to three questions:
―So it's the fact of your son's conviction for those offences being
disclosed to your neighbours and the fact of him living at your
residence, correct?-- Yeah.
-- 21 of 52 --
22
If that information were to be disclosed to your neighbours would
you still be willing for your son to reside at your home?-- No.‖24
Counsel for the Chief Executive reinforced the position:
―MR HAMLYN-HARRIS: I just want to understand clearly your
position, Mrs M. Again, it's not a criticism of you but I'd like you to
make it clear. If the department's decision is that there must be
disclosure for Gregory to reside with you - in other words, as a
condition of him residing with you - what would be your attitude
towards him residing with you?-- He wouldn't be able to.‖25
[75] Mr Hynds had, and has, no alternative proposal for his accommodation. It was
apparent to all that in terms of a possible supervision order, the issue of disclosure
was a potential deal breaker.
[76] Mr Hynds then sought an adjournment of the hearing for 10-12 weeks in order to
enable evidence to be given of his future interaction with Dr Boyce. There being no
opposition to that application, the matter was adjourned to 28 May 2012. Before
adjourning, I said:
―HIS HONOUR: Now, given the turn that the case has taken, I think
it's necessary to give some thought to being prepared for what's to
happen on the 28th of May. I'm not trying to hint at any view at all
at the moment because I genuinely do not know whether I will order
continued detention or supervised release. In the event that I order
supervised release, and the prima facie view that I expressed to you
earlier26 is still maintained, it is likely that I will raise with Mr Hynds
the question of an interim injunction. It would be helpful to know, in
advance of the 28th, on what facts, the chief executive submits, it is
in the public interest that this disclosure take place, so that (a) Mr
Hynds can focus upon those facts, and (b) I can.
MR HAMLYN-HARRIS: Yes. Thank you, your Honour.‖27
Counsel foreshadowed the possibility of an affidavit to address those issues.
The sixth day of hearing
[77] The matter was relisted for half a day on 28 May. At the outset of the hearing
counsel for the Attorney sought leave to reopen his case in order to lead evidence
from Dr Boyce. Mr Hynds did not oppose that application, leave was granted and
an affidavit was read. Mr Hynds did not require Dr Boyce for cross-examination.
[78] Counsel for Mr Anderson then sought leave to reopen his case in order to lead
evidence relating to Mr Hynds' accommodation. That evidence consisted of two
affidavits. The first was by Ms Jenny Lynas deposing to the effect that there was no
suitable accommodation for Mr Hynds known to the Department other than at his
mother's residence. That was uncontroversial.
24 Transcript 5-31.
25 Transcript 5-39.
26 Regarding the interpretation of s 341.
27 Transcript 5-45.
-- 22 of 52 --
23
[79] The second affidavit was made by Ms Marlene Morison, Commissioner of
Queensland Corrective Services. Ms Morison was Mr Anderson's delegate for the
purposes of s 341 of the Corrective Services Act 2006. Ms Morison deposed that
she had decided to authorise disclosure to be made to those persons who were
neighbours of Mr Hynds' mother. That decision had been made earlier that
morning. A copy of the decision and the reasons for it were exhibited to the
affidavit, which had been provided to Mr Hynds only shortly before court began.
[80] Predictably, Mr Hynds objected to the use of that affidavit. He pointed out that I
had specifically requested that he be given advance notification of the reasons for
the decision. With considerable justification he characterised the lateness of the
affidavit as delaying tactics. In the end I determined to admit the evidence. Also
predictably Mr Hynds required Ms Morison for cross-examination. Despite the
lateness of her affidavit she was not immediately available in person. She came to
court after lunch and was then cross-examined. Addresses did not conclude until
5.10pm. Other litigants in the applications list were inconvenienced.
Mr Hynds' evidence of the offending
[81] On his evidence in this review Mr Hynds has not departed from the version of the
offending which he gave for the two previous reviews. That version was
summarised by Dr Madsen:
"42. Mr Hynds denies the 'official version' as detailed within
Judge Smyth's sentencing remarks on the 15/12/1989.
Instead he has described a complex build up wherein he
proposes that a range of historical, contextual, interpersonal
and intra-personal factors contributed to him offending in
the manner that he did. Of these factors perhaps the most
notable is Mr Hynd's belief at the time that Ian Whitehead
(one of the victims in the initial offences) had 'cheated' him
out of money. What follows is Mr Hynds' description to me
of the build up to his offending.
43. As highlighted above Mr Hynds reported that his job as a
debt collector had led him to also work as a drug courier for
Alex. This started in 1982 when on his first overseas
deployment he claims to have brought back 10 kg of hash.
In 1986 or 1987 he attempted to import 30 kgs of cocaine
form the United States and enlisted the help of his colleague
(Ian Whitehead). The 'job' was successful, and Mr Hynds
was to be paid $15000 from Alex (the supposed distributor).
However, because Mr Hynds was in Melbourne at the time
Ian was given the money to then pass onto him. However
Ian is to have denied ever having received the money from
Alex. Mr Hynds believed that Ian was lying and attempting
to steal his money, and despite his attempts at resolving the
issue was not paid 'his' money. In response Mr Hynds
describe becoming increasingly agitated and angry by what
he perceived to be disloyalty. When he returned from
Melbourne he went over to Ian's house with a gun and
assaulted him. He was motivated to gain revenge and get
his money. He thought both of Ian and his wife (Robyn)
-- 23 of 52 --
24
were 'worthless pieces of shit' and described the motivation
to 'degrade and humiliate' them both.
44. In terms of the actual offending Mr Hynds provided broad
and vague details of 'torturing' Ian and then forcing the
couple to engage in various sexual acts with each other. He
stated that he wanted to humiliate and degrade them both.
When questioned about the build up to his offending Mr
Hynds reported that what had upset him the most was not
the issue of the money however the perception of the lack of
respect and loyalty.
45. In regards to the second offence Mr Hynds described a
confusing story of having been stationed in Nowra where he
was completing some training. He continued to feeling
anger and resentment about being 'ripped off' by Ian and
Robyn. At sometime during the year he claims that he
found out the couple were actually going to be moving to
Nowra as well. This information was to him particularly
aggravating as it was like 'rubbing salt into the wound'.
After finding this out he reported that he started planning his
revenge on the couple for their 'disrespect'. He claims that
when he targeted the second victim (a stranger sharing the
same name) he had believed that it was Robyn, the victim in
his initial offence. Mr Hynds refused or was unable to
discuss the actual second offence.
46. Mr Hynds reported that he felt sorry for the second victim,
however, less so for Robyn and Ian. He stated that some
time later whilst in prison he found out that Ian had not
received the money after all. He continued to bear a grudge
against Ian and Robyn for approximately 10 years of his
prison time."
[82] Mr Hynds was extremely evasive when cross-examined about the offending. It is
instructive to consider his evidence regarding his alleged loss of memory.
[83] He claimed to have large gaps in his memory, particularly in relation to the second
incident. However his evidence about what he could remember contained
inconsistencies. For example:
―But, see, when I was asking you questions about what happened in
that incident you agreed largely with what I put to you up to the point
where I put to you that an - a sexual attack took place?-- Because my
intentions were, and as I just stated, that my belief was that Ian and
Robyn had come down against the bail orders, because I was not to
go to Sydney unless it was for legal advice or a Court appearance, I
had to stay out 50 kilometres outside of Sydney, and it was my belief
that Ian and Robyn had moved down there, the people that I was
supposed to stay away with, and I needed to deal with that.
And why did you want to murder Ian and Robyn, was it?-- Yes.
Why did you want to murder them?-- Because in October of that
year after the committal offences Ian come down to Nowra to see
me. He was down on an exercise at Nowra and he come to see me
-- 24 of 52 --
25
personally on the base and he actually made a threat to me and my
wife and my children.
HIS HONOUR: Why did you go through the business of having a
friend ring up and to see the woman who you were eventually
charged in respect of?-- Because, your Honour, as I said I believed it
was Robyn from the first offences and she would known my voice.
MR HAMLYN-HARRIS: All right. Mr Hynds-----
HIS HONOUR: So you remember doing all that?-- Your Honour,
that was the plan right from the word go. It's just that when I got to
the door and it was someone else I fucked up, if you pardon the
expression.
But you remember everything up to that point?-- Look, I've read
transcripts, you know.
Do you remember everything up to that point, do you?-- Your
Honour, personally I hadn't but I need (sic) the evidence through the
transcripts and that to embody meself with it.‖28
Mr Hynds was here able to give a series of answers (emphasised above) related to
his state of mind at the relevant time. When he was asked specifically about his
memory, however, he sought to attribute his answers to a reading of transcripts. He
did not point to any transcript capable of having informed him of his own state of
mind.
[84] Mr Hynds was asked in effect at what point his memory loss ended:
―What is your first memory? Do you remember being arrested?--
Your Honour, I remember leaving and organising what I did with the
person to ring who I believed Robyn up. I organised that-----
No, no-----?-- -----But after-----
-----I'm asking you do you remember being arrested?-- After the
offence-----
Yes?-- -----the first thing I remember was being woken up in the
mobile one vehicle down on the flight line at half past 6 in the
morning.
Half past 6 in the morning?-- Yeah, by the Naval police dog handler.
And they came and took you to the-----?-- Guard house-----
-----guard house?-- -----that's right.
And there were New South Wales police there?-- They arrived about
10 minutes later.
And what happened after that?-- They took me to Nowra police
shop.
And what time did you get there, roughly?-- Oh, probably half eight,
quarter to nine in the morning.
And what happened while you were there?-- Nothing. They just took
me through the process.
Locked you up and booked you and so on?-- That's right.‖
28 Transcript 4-89 to 4-90.
-- 25 of 52 --
26
These were things which he actually remembered. Shortly afterwards he claimed to
be unable to remember a visit from his wife at the police station that afternoon.
When it was pointed out to him that he had remembered events earlier in the day he
claimed that his earlier answers had been based on transcripts. As the questions
show, that was simply untrue. I infer that he lied in order to avoid having to answer
questions about his conversation with his wife.
[85] Mr Hynds' then wife had provided a statement about her visit to him. It included
the following:
―8. I remember the conversation clearly. I said, ‗I don't know what
to say to you, I am totally confused, do you have anything to
say to me?‘
He said, ‗I guess I have let you down.‘
I said, ‗Do you have anything to say to me?‘
He said, ‗It's true I did it. I had intercourse with her, rape I
guess you call it.‘
I said, ‗But why?‘
He said, ‗It‘s the alcohol. I have a problem with alcohol and
sex.‘
I said, ‗I have been trying to tell you that for the past couple of
years.‘
He said, ‗I know, I know.‘ ‖
[86] It could not be suggested that Mr Hynds' words to his wife were the product of
having read transcripts.
Mr Hynds' personal history
[87] I adopt Dr Madsen's report:
"18. Mr Hynds is the first born in a sibship of three in Goulburn.
He grew up in the Mackay area after the family moved there
when he was approximately 6 years old. He met his
development milestones within expect times and generally
recalled his childhood in positive terms. He depicted his
parents as conservative and traditional, and generally
described their relationship to be 'positive'. He claimed to
be unaware of any immediate familial criminal history or
mental health problems. He denied concerns with regards to
physical or sexual abuse, neglect, substance misuse or
violence within the family home. Previous reports have
noted that Mr Hynds reported that his father was a violence
alcoholic who regularly assaulted his mother.
19. Mr Hynds described himself as an 'active' child who from a
young age was involved in a range of sporting activities. He
reported frequently 'clashing' with his father because he was
'different' to his brothers. When Mr Hynds was
approximately 13 years old his father became ill with what
appears to have been lung cancer. He left the family home
shortly after to join the Navy. His parents divorced when he
-- 26 of 52 --
27
was 21 years old, and his father passed away in the mid
1990's. Dr Harden's report indicates that Mr Hynds had
described a conflictual and volatile relationship with this
man until his death.
20. Otherwise Mr Hynds described a stable home environment
that was reasonably organised with a structure to the
evenings and weekends (i.e. dinner and bed time). Whilst it
appears that Mr Hynds may have displayed features of
oppositional defiance during his childhood, he denied
exhibiting behaviours indicative of conduct disorder as a
child or behaviours reflective of juvenile delinquency-type
problems as an adolescent.
21. Mr Hynds described having 'strong family ties' however
upon closer questioning it appears that he has limited to no
contact with his family beyond his mother. At present Mr
Hynds reported maintaining weekly phone contact with his
mother, and intermittent contact with his two younger
brothers. Collateral information indicates that his mother
has visited him on seven occasions since his incarceration in
1989, whilst his brothers have never visited him in prison.
21.1 Educational and Occupational History
22. Mr Hynds attended mainstream schools and described
himself as an academically average student. He completed
schooling to grade 10 though briefly attended grade 11
before leaving for work. Mr Hynds portrayed himself as a
reasonably well behaved student, and denied getting into
fights generally or bullying other students. The only time he
would get in 'trouble' was when he was disruptive in his
classes by talking to other students or not paying attention.
He reported intermittently truanting from grade eight (8)
onwards, and claimed that his parents were unaware of this
behaviour. He denied ever having been suspended or
expelled.
23. After school he reported that he worked briefly as a spare
parts salesman before joining the Navy at about the age of
16 or 17 years. Notably Mr Hynds' account of this time has
varied between interviewers. He has previously reported not
joining the Navy until the age of 19 years (1980), and has
also described having been unsuccessful in his first attempt
to join the Navy due to some medical concern.
24. Mr Hynds spoke in extremely positive terms about his
experiences within the Navy. He claimed to have achieved
the rank of Leading Seaman and Provisional Petty Officer.
He denied ever having been disciplined within the Navy for
his conduct, and claimed to have received specialist training
in communications and completed numerous overseas
deployments. In this regard Mr Hynds described a number
of somewhat extraordinary experiences. For instance, he
reported that one of his overseas deployments had been in
Afghanistan where he was embedded with a local tribe (the
-- 27 of 52 --
28
Pashtuns) to 'spy' on the Soviets. He described that whilst
living with the Pashtun tribe he had observed conflict close
at hand and had seen Soviet prisoners executed by the
Afghans. Collateral indicated that he has also reported
being stationed in Beirut where he witnessed conflict and
bomb explosions. Overall, Mr Hynds tended to portray
himself as a conscientious and reliable employee who was
well regarded by his colleagues and superiors within the
Navy.
25. Throughout his time in the Navy Mr Hynds disclosed also
having worked as a 'debt collector' for a colleague (Alex)
who ran some type of loan and drug dealing business. He
started this additional work shortly after having joined the
Navy in 1980. The debt collecting allowed him to work on
a 'job by job' basis. Mr Hynds portrayed his role as a debt
collector as a legitimate and necessary extension of a
moneylending business, however, upon closer questioning it
appears most of the people that owed money were
individuals with substance abuse or addiction problems. Mr
Hynds described how he routinely used intimidation and
instrumental violence in this role to gain the monies owed.
Collateral indicated that he has used weapons to hurt people
(i.e. baseball bats) and described experiencing a thrill from
the violence involved (i.e. 'enjoyed the violence' and 'testing
out how far you could go'), though he denied this to me.
26. Within our interviews Mr Hynds alluded to having also
regularly participated in drug couriering ('transport
products') as part of his role as debt collector for Alex. He
refused to elaborate further as he 'feared' that he could
'incriminate' himself in some way. Curiously Mr Hynds has
spoken at length about his involvement in drug couriering at
other times."
[88] Mr Hynds was born on 29 August 1961. He was married at the time of his
offending, with one child and one stepchild. The marriage did not survive his
imprisonment. He had been a binge drinker while in the Navy but had not been
addicted to illicit drugs.
[89] The ―extraordinary experiences‖ to which Dr Madsen referred were relevant to a
possible diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. That diagnosis was
considered but rejected by Professor James in a report which he prepared for the
second review. He pointed out that Mr Hynds had raised the suggestion of service
in Afghanistan and Beirut very belatedly (in 2007) and had not mentioned it on a
number of occasions when one would have expected it to have been mentioned. He
reported:
―7. Given what appears to be Mr Hynds‘ facility for inventing
narrative (at least two of the versions of his offending he has
provided at various times must be false, though all appear to have
been presented in quite plausible detail; and in the account that
Mr Hynds provided to me, he made references to his Service
nickname of ‗Cookie‘, because he could ‗cook things up to adapt
-- 28 of 52 --
29
to the changing requirements, needs, conditions and
circumstances presented to [his service colleagues in
Afghanistan] on a daily basis‘), it is not impossible that Mr
Hynds is inclined to fanciful invention in terms of his life
experiences – a condition known in psychiatry as Pseudo-logia
Phantastica.‖
In his reasons for judgment the judge expressed scepticism about the war service
and pointed out that Mr Hynds' service records might have been available by
subpoena.
[90] That triggered a responsive affidavit from Mr Hynds29 in the present review:
"4. In the review hearing before His Honour Justice Applegarth
in October 2010, a number of claims, opinions,
presumptions or beliefs were made, in written reports or in
oral evidence, regarding the Respondent's conduct,
behaviour and work ethics whilst a serving member of the
Royal Australian Navy between 1979 and 1988.
5. These claims, opinions, presumptions or beliefs were made
by the assessing psychiatrists or the Court in the written
judgment and were, in effect, in opposition to what the
Respondent had claimed to the psychiatrists in their
interviews of the Respondent in August 2010.
6. The Respondent forwards certified copies of the copied
military documentation he requested from the Department of
Defence in December 2010, which was received by him in
February 2011. Attached is the covering letter of Mercedes
Rehak dated 08 February 2011 of this military
documentations, marked 'GAH-100'.
7. Attached and marked 'GAH-101' is the enclosed letter of
Major P.R.G. Baxter, dated 02 February 2011, atop of the
requested documentation by the Respondent. This letter of
Major Baxter deems all documented materials released to
the Respondent were deemed to be 'unclassified' and
appropriately 'security cleared' by the Defence Department
prior to release.
8. Attached and marked 'GAH-102" is the certified copy of the
copied documents 'Undertaking of Secrecy' which was read
and signed by the Respondent on 04 February 1980.
9. The Respondent, by this document 'Undertaking of Secrecy',
is duty bound to comply to that directed within this
document, whereby it clearly states; 'any official
information acquired by me in the course of my employment
with the Australian Government' is such that 'if is my duty
not to disclose, be published or communicated to another
person in any form either or after my service in or with the
Australian Government.'
29 In it he referred to himself n the third person.
-- 29 of 52 --
30
10. The non-safeguarding of such official information is
deemed, to be 'an offence' which 'renders me liable to
proceeding under Australian Legislation' as outlined within
this 'Undertaking of Secrecy' document.
11. The Respondent contends that he is limited to what he can
or cannot disclose to any Court appointed psychiatrist, or
legal person, because any breach or neglect on the
Respondent's part to safeguard such information during the
course of his employment with the Australian Government
could lead to legal proceedings against the Respondent, even
upon discharge of such service with the Australian
Government.
12. The Respondent contends that given the implication he may
be legally prosecuted if he does not safeguard the
information obtained during his military service, including,
the Respondent contends, deployments and exchanges of
service with other military services overseas, the
Respondent will remain with lips sealed and comply to the
terms and conditions of the document 'Undertaking of
Secrecy' which he agreed to and signed off on in February
1980 - 31 years ago because he has not been directed
otherwise.
…
35. The Department of Veteran Affairs' letter validates the
previous claims made by the Respondent in that he served in
one or two 'hostile' environments in 'the 1980's whilst on
exchange with other overseas military services' because the
Respondent carries injuries from this period of service
which he can received medical or hospital treatments for.
These claims made by the Respondent have been made to all
assessing psychiatrists over the past three years, including
Professor James."
[91] The document purporting to be a letter from a Major Baxter of the Department of
Defence Personnel Records Section contains the following paragraphs:
―The instructions I have been given is [sic] to inform you that the
Australian Defence Department is not obligated to provide assistance
to past, or present, members of its force in a civil court matter. This
is particularly so when highly classified material is in question, as it
is in this case.
As expressed to you and recorded on 31 January 2008, the
information you are trying to ascertain cannot be released to you or
to any other authority representing you in whatever capacity because
of the sensitivities relating to these materials.
Sections of your documents have been sealed due to the security
interests to [sic] the Australian government and to that of another
foreign government back in 1982. These documents will not be
released, or disclosed, in accordance to [sic] the high security
classification placed upon them. They therefore they [sic] will
remain permanently sealed. You are also reminded, at top of those
-- 30 of 52 --
31
documents lies a signed affirmation by you before the Chief of Navy
and your Commanding Officer, at that time, that clearly defines your
obligations in relation to this period of service (between April and
November 1982) and the high security classification it holds.‖
A Justice of the Peace had certified that this document was a true copy of a
photocopy which he had sighted.
[92] There are a number of curious features about the get up and phraseology of that
document. It is unnecessary to explore them fully; this is not a Royal Commission
into its genuineness.30 On 17 February 2012, I specifically drew the attention of
counsel for Mr Hynds to the fact that records of the military service of Mr Hynds
could be subpoenaed and foreshadowed that the absence of any genuine attempt on
his part to obtain such records would reflect on his credibility. The evidence
discloses no such attempt.
[93] On the balance of probabilities I am not satisfied that Mr Hynds had the experiences
in Afghanistan or Beirut which he alleges.
Mr Hynds' conduct while in custody
[94] A periodic report by a Corrective Services officer on 29 January 2012 read:
―Offender HYNDS continues to display acceptable behaviour, he is
always well mannered and polite when interacting with both staff
and lenders and appears to have no negative compatibility issues
within the residential complex at time of reporting. Offender
HYNDS does not require prompting to attend musters and scheduled
work sessions. Nil concern at time of reporting.‖
That is typical of the entries over many years. He completed a violence
intervention program in 1998. Otherwise it is unnecessary to repeat descriptions
given in earlier reviews.
[95] In early 2011, Mr Hynds created a six-page document which he gave to Dr Madsen
and which was subsequently seen by both psychiatrists. It reads:
"I believe with a few essential ingredients/tools (learnt through self
development programs, counselling and co-facilitation of Young
Offenders Program in 1995-1996 at Gatton (NSW) and Pre-Release
Program at Borallon 2000-2003) a failure or mistake, made or
undertaken, is never the end but actually a first step towards a new
beginning because I've learnt (and continue to learn) that I've been
reinvented because of my past failures and mistakes and thinking
processes.
I believe I would not be the same person I now feel I am had it not
been for the time spent incarcerated. Although I've had moments of
discomfort and embarrasment along the way, the lessons I've learnt
30 At my request my associate had e-mailed the solicitors for all parties requesting that they ―give
consideration to whether the Commonwealth Attorney-General should be advised of this possibility
[that Mr Hynds might be asked questions about where he had served] so that he has the opportunity
to give notice under s 6A of the National Security Information (Criminal and Civil Proceedings) Act
2004, with whatever consequences such a notice might produce (see e.g. Part 3A of that Act).‖
-- 31 of 52 --
32
to change me are neither new or original - yet they have been lessons
I'd not been aware of until presented to me during my imprisonment.
I have learnt the hard way, by fighting change, that such renewal is
not about what I do or accomplish, its about who I hope to become as
a person and what is needed to facilitate this growth. And this
growth has been painful as there has been no magic steps and no
simple formulas in the growing. Its simply been a willingness,
eventually, to apply myself to the lessons and incorporating them
into my own life.
I believe that being incarcerated was no accident. Call it what you
will - an intuition, God's will, whatever - but my mistakes, my
attitudes, my prior alternatives in life were instrumental in me being
imprisoned and being sent where I needed to be sent to discover the
power of accepting responsibility for my actions and the impact it
had on others.
Nelson Mendela once said; 'One can mature once he has embraced
the value of life's tribulations.'
By all accounts Mandela was an intense but angry man. And blinded
by his anger he never saw that it diminished the influence he had on
others. Yet imprisonment, and the isolation of that imprisonment,
allowed Mandela to exit prison with a completely different
demeanor.
And the lessons learnt reading the words from, and about, Mandela
have been influenced in helping me embrace my own trials with a
number of implemented principles -
LEARN FROM MY TROUBLES
I do not focus on whether or not I consider my troubles fair or
just.
I do not worry about whether others have it 'easier' or why
some get a 'good break' more than others.
I gain strength and wisdom to overcome and rise above the
limitations imposed upon me.
I'm willing to admit and own my own frailties.
ACCEPT REALITY
I don't put energy into making excuses or denying reality
I embrace my troubles and invest myself in overcoming or
raising above them.
If I do not embrace my troubles, those troubles will own me.
A good attitude will go a long way toward determining my
connection to a community which will be sustainable.
The more open and assertive I am in making a good attitude
the more meaningful such a community will be to my life.
My life prior to my imprisonment could be seen as that being one
where I rarely stopped to think who I was. If I was ever asked I
would have said I was an aggressive, self-confident person. I was all
about achievement. It was a self-image based on default based
-- 32 of 52 --
33
completely on performance - be it with the military or my working
relationship with Alex.
Up until that time (my imprisonment) I had never taken the time to
look at myself in the mirror and ask the tough deep questions of
myself.
Once I took to processing this I realized that my own storey of
injustice, hardship and irrational thought processes was not so unique
to just me but a tale of each and every offender. I, like them, was
serving a sentence because of a lack of character and integrity. I'd
glossed over my own deficiences by adopting a fantasy image.
In my case, the logic has hit home. That is - 'that crime or criminal
activity is the result of someone (me) elevating his (my) own needs
above those of the people he (me) victimizes.'
This is because (as I've learnt) behaviour always follows beliefs and
offenders generally believe that what they have done was right and
necessary and seem to be incapable of seeing the errors of their ways
because their frames of reference are personal. That was so true of
me. I believe I was no different.
I believed the world revolved around me, my willingness to exploit
people was my subconscious way of saying that my comfort and
security mattered than anyone elses rights.
My sexual exploitation (through my travels with the military) of
women with lust and selfishness, replacing love and commitment,
was my way of taking care of me.
In my world, breaking the rules wasn't really wrong as long as I got
away with it by demonstrating greater creativity more than the next
guy possessed.
I believe that almost everything I did, prior to my imprisonment,
emerged from inappropriate motivations.
The irony of that, and a contridiction too, is that every society has its
code of behaviour, from tribal societies to highly developed nations.
In most of these cultures respect is the most basic response you can
give another person. When you steal someone's respect you have
seriously injured that person.
That is what I felt in 1987 - that my own respect was taken away
from me due to what I believed, and what I was lead to believe at
that time, and I took measures to defend my dignity because it was
such a precious commodity.
The contridiction to that is that I too lacked the respect toward
others, or the respect others held and dignified ie: my work debt
collecting with Alex, the respect Ian and Robyn (1987) held, and the
respect Robyn (1988) held - the latter three victims of my offences.
Imprisonment has taught me, and empowered me, toward a more
simple life. Such a simple life re-arranges my thinking. Reflection
replaces constant talk. Authenticity becomes more important than
image.
A simple life finds value in beauty, clarity and justice rather than
wealth, comfort, productivity and consumption.
-- 33 of 52 --
34
Being a good, or better, citizen takes precedence over maximizing
individuality. Simplicity generates comfort in moderation rather
than excess and it appreciates the mysteries of life rather than
striving to solve them.
Most of all simplicity produces contentment in whatever
circumstances I find myself in. When I was forcibly down-shifted in
prison from the life I was leading, it was hard and painful as I felt I
was missing out on all the wonderful and important things life offers.
Yet I've since discovered the most valuable insights: to surrender my
past to more meaningful thoughts and experiences which an
imprisonment term can actually offer like no other.
To surrender to my anger (my resentments, my desires for revenge)
which provided me the energy and purpose in life, I had to make
choices to deal with this anger, and the anger at the dysfunctions of
my past.
By not doing so, I'd be, in essence, choosing to remain in my own
personal prison.
I had to start to alter my ways in dealing with other people around
me. I could choose to remain angry or I could choose to listen to
others. I could choose to be disrespectful of others or I could choose
to be more caring to others‘ needs and attitudes and opinions (this is
highlighted by my involvements in the Young Offenders Group in
Grafton and the Pre-Release Program I proposed, implemented and
co-facilitated at Borallon).
Once I learnt, and realized, that it wasn‘t anyone else‘s actions but
my own attitudes that held me back it was much easier to move
ahead.
In so doing, I‘ve realized that sometimes there are people in my life
who are not good for me and thus I set protective boundaries around
my interactions with them and it is alright to do so.
I have a platform to keep improving myself. I will probably make
mistakes, but it is empowering myself to not beat myself up over
those mistakes and continue to learn and incorporate better
alternatives for those poor choices I will no doubt make.
Like Mandela, I hope to transition from a hostile combatant of
myself to a champion of reconciliation within myself and my
attitudes towards others.
And in so doing, it is for my own sake and my own requirements and
my own wishes – not for the sake of, or the requirement of, or the
needs or wishes of, others."
It demonstrated that Mr Hynds had learned some things from his multiple
interactions with psychologists and psychiatrists. It does not in my
judgment demonstrate that those interactions have achieved their objectives.
Psychiatric and psychological evidence
[96] Evidence on this review came from Professor James, Dr Harden and Dr Madsen.
-- 34 of 52 --
35
Professor James
[97] Professor James provided a report dated in November 2011. Under the heading
―Background to the Examination‖ he wrote:
"Mr Hynds has been examined by some nine Psychiatrists as well as
by several Clinical Psychologists since the commission of his
offences, and the related reports leave no doubt that the offences
themselves, and the psychodynamics which may have underlain
them, are extremely complex; and explanatory formulations have
begun to crystallise only very slowly. As I had made an attempt to
describe these complexities in some detail in my report of October
2010, I have judged it unnecessary to replicate in particular the
historical data; and I ask with respect that this present report be read
in association with my two reports respectively of 03 October 2010
and 21 August 2011."
His earlier description is recorded at length in the reasons for judgment on the
second review. I shall emulate his example by inviting attention to paragraphs [62]
to [72] of those reasons.
[98] Mr Hynds has had a number of interactions with Professor James, who saw them as
relevant to ―the preferred nature of longer term psychotherapeutic engagement.‖
The latter also noted that Mr Hynds has been examined in some detail by at least
nine psychiatrists and many psychologists during the almost 23 years of his
imprisonment. He reported:
―I have noted elsewhere that although such examinations are not
therapeutic in terms of their primary purpose and intent, nevertheless
the effect of them is often to stimulate reflection and self-questioning
in the examinee; and I consider Mr Hynds to be a person who has
responded, over time, in this fashion.
I consider that his hand written document on 06 April 2011, to which
reference has been made do [sic] genuinely reflect the nature of his
self-examination.
In my view, the above observations are important and valid
confirmations of my earlier expressed the opinion that Mr Hynds is
capable of, and likely to benefit from, and individual psychotherapy,
of a kind that I have described as ‗exploratory‘.‖
[99] Professor James placed considerable weight on that handwritten document. He
wrote:
"In addition to the process of his (past, present and possible future)
therapeutic reflections, I consider the content of his hand written
document also to be reassuring with respect to Mr Hynds' potential
risk of re-offending. It is congruent that what, in my opinion, has
been a gradual elaboration and assimilation over time by Mr Hynds
of a personal philosophy which now enables him to see his previous
inclination to abiding anger and his urge for retribution, in a wider
social and personal context, very likely in my opinion to provide him
with a much more complex intra-psychic context, serving not only to
dilute any potential vestiges of his earlier potential for abiding range,
-- 35 of 52 --
36
and his having felt compelled to act them out, but also to provide him
with a range of alternative and more acceptable strategies for dealing
with them."
He expressed the view that the mitigating effect of these ―evolving intrapsychic
processes‖ was likely to have been enhanced by the effects of ―progressive
biological maturation‖. I take the latter phrase to mean ―getting older‖.
[100] The opinions which I have just quoted were supported in Professor James' opinion
by Mr Hynds‘ ―quite impeccable behaviour during the last decade of his time in
prison‖. He reiterated the fact
―that there has not only been no suggestion of attitudes or behaviour
antipathetic to females in his dealing with many female prison
officers over this period, but, in addition, most of the favourable
comments in the IOMS notations appear to have been written by
female officers.‖
[101] As to a diagnosis of Mr Hynds, Professor James expressed the opinion that the
offending
―occurred in the context of a personality structure and lifestyle, both
of which were rigid in nature, and at a time in his life where he was
prone to abiding anger and the need for retribution when he felt
betrayed. This appears to have characterised his conduct as an
‗enforcer‘ for a debt collecting organisation, as well as for his first
(1987) set of offences. I consider it likely that Mr Hynds‘ long-
standing abuse of alcohol may have made some contribution to the
apparent confusion and perseveration which appear to have underlain
his second (1988) set of offences.‖
He adhered to his earlier diagnoses of alcohol abuse and antisocial personality
disorder.
[102] Professor James abandoned his earlier concern31 about Mr Hynds' lack of disclosure
of previous life events, such as some aspects of his military history. He did so on
the basis that the evidence (presumably Major Baxter‘s letter) showed a real
possibility that his operational activities were and remain officially secret. He
found reassurance in other documents which tended to show there was no
previously undisclosed offending in the course of Mr Hynds' naval service.
[103] Professor James concluded with the following opinions:
"1. Mr Hynds' offences in 1987 and 1988 were driven primarily
by anger and the desire for revenge when feeling betrayed;
and that notwithstanding the use of sexuality in commission
of his crimes, I do not consider that he has any further or
intrinsic abnormality of sexual impulses; in particular, there
is no evidence of Paedophilia.
2. Changes for the better in Mr Hynds' personality have
progressed to a point, and are sufficiently established, for
the possible risk of any sexual re-offending to be
manageable in the community, provided there were in place
31 See para [89].
-- 36 of 52 --
37
a Supervision Order under the provisions of the Dangerous
Prisoners (Sexual Offenders) Act 2003.
3. After such a prolonged period of incarceration (twenty-three
years,) should Mr Hynds be released into the community
without the structure of a Supervision Order, and without
social support, the experience would prove very stressful,
with consequences which are very difficult to predict. In
such circumstances, the risk of his re-offending in general
would be at least moderate; and the possibility of sexual
offending could not be excluded.
4. Even in the presence of a Supervision Order, and
notwithstanding the inevitable sense of restrictions involved,
the transition from the structured environment of a prison
will be challenging, and Mr Hynds would require positive
social support during the first many months, including
particularly with respect to his obtaining employment.
5. In my opinion the provisions in any Supervision Order
should include particularly:
- a requirement for absolute abstinence from all
intoxicating substances, including alcohol;
- the need to reside in an approved location;
- the necessity to undertake an occupation only when
approved;
- a prohibition on contacting any previous victim;
- regular reporting to Correctional Services
Authorities;
and
- the undertaking of long term psychotherapy. (I have
noted on previous occasions my opinions with
respect to the type of psychotherapy, the fact that it
should be long-term, and that confidentiality issues
should be clear and negotiated prior to the start of
therapy).
6. There would be no need for restrictions of a kind which are
placed specifically on persons convicted of crimes against
children to be imposed in the case of Mr Hynds.‖
[104] In his evidence-in-chief Professor James reiterated his concern regarding two
remaining areas of uncertainty: the experiences which Mr Hynds underwent during
his military service and the motivation for the second incident of offending.
Nonetheless he thought that betrayal would be an important construct in Mr Hynds'
thinking, capable of precipitating violence (albeit an ameliorated capacity) and a
factor to alert his therapists and provide the opportunity for pre-emptive
intervention.
[105] Professor James accepted that if the true description of Mr Hynds' offending was as
set out above32, it would throw doubt on everything that Mr Hynds had told him,
upon which he had based his opinions. In that case he would be ―struggling to
make sense of it all‖; it would throw his assessment into disarray.
32 Paragraphs [4]-[12].
-- 37 of 52 --
38
[106] As to the possibility of participation in a group violence program as recommended
by Dr Madsen, Professor James said he was not as sure as Dr Madsen that it was
likely to be helpful. He did however think that it would be helpful to have
components of Dr Madsen's program and the personalised psychotherapy of the
kind which he himself had been advocating. It was important that this continue for
more than a year or two – a number of years‘ therapy would be necessary and
continuity of the therapist would be paramount.
Dr Harden
[107] Like Professor James, Dr Harden referred back to his previous interview in 2008.
He summarised Mr Hynds' description of the offending:
―He reported that he was incarcerated because of sexual assaults
against two separate women which had occurred in 1987 and 1988.
He was at pains to emphasise that the offences were driven by his
anger and hatred towards Mr and Mrs B with regard to his perception
that they had cheated him out of money, lied with regard to the
circumstances of the first offence and then Mr B had allegedly
threatened to harm to Mr Hynds' family.‖
I shall not set out in full Dr Harden's report of what Mr Hynds told him (it occupies
15 pages), but I note that Mr Hynds ―consistently denied that the offences he had
been convicted of were sexual in motivation‖; and, ―He appeared to be trying very
hard to minimise any sexual content to the previous offences and to see them as
more violent offences.‖
[108] Under the heading "Mental State Examination" Dr Harden reported:
"In 2008 he attempted to control both the interview process and
content with his use of handwritten summaries of personal
background information that he would only give the interviewer
when that area was touched on in the interview.
At the interview in 2010 he was unhappy with my characterisation
and interpretation of this behaviour as he saw himself as just being
helpful.
In all the interviews he presented as a man with a significant sense of
entitlement who wished to control the process. In 2010 he gave me a
long lecture on the injustice of his position and tended to make
sweeping pseudo philosophical statements such as in 2008 'I do not
believe that rehabilitation exists in Queensland' and in 2010 that he
'posed a conundrum to them' (the prison authorities and counsellors).
He appeared to try very hard and in an interpersonally sophisticated
fashion to present a favourable view to the interviewer as would be
expected given his situation. It seemed in 2008 likely that he was
possibly untruthful in a number of areas but had high-level
communication skills and was able to cover for these inconsistencies
at times. He was angry in 2010 that other people might say that he
was not telling the truth at times. This unhappiness that other people
might not trust was he said continued to be a theme in the 2011
interview."
-- 38 of 52 --
39
[109] Dr Harden too placed weight on the six-page hand written document provided to Dr
Madsen. He described that document as ―quite reflective in tone‖ and expressed the
opinion that the tone
―suggested that given time to reflect and consider at the very least he
was able to intellectually understand and appropriate stance that
might allow him to move forward in taking responsibility for his past
actions and for his future.‖
He made a diagnosis of probable Personality Disorder NOS and referred also to the
strong history of alcohol abuse.
[110] Formal risk assessment instruments were described in some detail in Dr Harden's
report. The instruments had been used on earlier occasions. Dr Harden re-scored
the Stable 2007. Mr Hynds had a score of 11 out of a possible 24, which placed him
in the moderate needs group in terms of sexual offender's dynamic risk.
[111] Dr Harden assessed Mr Hynds' future risk of sexual reoffending as high. He made
the following recommendations:
"Recommendations
With regard to treatment I would strongly recommend consideration
of the staged approach that Dr Madsen has suggested as this appears
to me to provide hope of moving forward with intervention in My
Hynds to decrease his future risk.
In my opinion Dr Madsen's proposed treatment options address some
of the issues raised at the previous annual review hearing.
His therapeutic recommendations are individualised and targeted at
the critical issues for Mr Hynds. His layout of the sequential nature
of therapeutic intervention dealing with those issues first that
interfere most with intervention is very sensible and appropriate.
His assessment of the possible responsivity issues and problems in
therapy is realistic and helpful.
In my opinion, the schema focused cognitive behavioural approach
would meet treatment needs as it is an approach looking at
underlying beliefs and experiences. It would need to be delivered by
an appropriately skilled practitioner.
I would recommend that interventions should begin while Mr Hynds
is still in custody in order to better measure progress prior to
consideration of his release into the community after such a
prolonged period of incarceration.
I would still recommend that if he were released from custody that he
be closely monitored in the community by means of a supervision
order. I would think the reduction in risk would be slow and such an
order should be in place for at least 5 years and preferably for 10
years.
I would recommend that such an order include provisions that he be
abstinent from alcohol and drug use and undergo an appropriate
random testing regime."
-- 39 of 52 --
40
Dr Madsen
[112] As noted above33, Dr Madsen, a ―Clinical Forensic Psychologist‖, interviewed Mr
Hynds in March and April 2011. He administered a variety of psychometric tools
and tests to evaluate various aspects of Mr Hynds' personality, attitudes and other
factors related to risk of offending. In relation to impulsivity, he reported that the
test results suggested that Mr Hynds was someone who was good at planning and
delaying gratification. In relation to anger he reported that Mr Hynds did not appear
to answer with the intention of providing a favourable impression. The result
suggested that he experienced anger more intensely and for longer than other
people.
[113] Under the heading ―Clinical Observations‖ Dr Madsen reported:
"84. Throughout our interviews he seemed to answer questions in
a candid and open manner. Nonetheless, he was a difficult
man to interview. His responses were circumstantial and
questions often needed to be re-phrased or re-stated to
ensure that they were answered appropriately. At other
times he refused to elaborate on specific areas due to his
concerns about 'incriminating himself' or the belief that
sharing the information would disadvantage him in some
manner. I formed the view that he had discussed the issues
covered within the assessment many times and his responses
had a rehearsed quality to them. My impression of Mr
Hynds' interactional style was that he was attempting to
provide as comprehensive a picture of 'his side of the story'.
Though his manner had the effect of controlling the
interview process, making it at times difficult to structure
and focus the interview, which consequently, increased the
time required to complete this component of the assessment.
It was noted that during his descriptions of various events
and incidences, he was able to provide detailed
rationalisations and justifications for his behaviour. He
tended to portray himself as a victim and described
incidences of being targeted by individuals, staff and the
legal system."
[114] Dr Madsen diagnosed two disorders which Mr Hynds was suffering: alcohol abuse
(in full remission in a contained environment) and Paranoid Personality Disorder
with Schizoid Traits. He also noted that Mr Hynds displayed some features of
Antisocial Personality Disorder, but reported that diagnosis could not be made
because of the absence of Conduct Disorder as a child.
[115] Dr Madsen reported that static factors placed Mr Hynds in the moderate-high risk
category for being charged or convicted of another sexual offence while dynamic
factors indicated a moderate level of risk. Taking into account also his personality
and behaviour he assessed Mr Hynds risk of sexual violence in the absence of
therapeutic intervention as moderate-high.
33 Paragraph [21].
-- 40 of 52 --
41
[116] I have described Dr Madsen's treatment recommendations above.34
Further findings
[117] I have set out above35 the descriptions of Mr Hynds' offending given by the judges
who sentenced him. In my judgment those descriptions are probably correct. It
should be remembered that for both incidents Mr Hynds pleaded not guilty to some
of the charges. He was convicted of those charges after a trial. The jury had to be
satisfied of the truth of the evidence of the complainants and, probably, the first
complainant's husband. The judges' descriptions were based on that evidence. The
complainant‘s statements and evidence are before me and they are persuasive. Mr
Hynds initially appealed against these convictions, but he abandoned that appeal
before his case was heard.
[118] I am satisfied on the balance of probabilities that Mr Hynds' subsequent story about
being a debt collector for sales of illicit drugs is a fabrication. So are his claims
regarding events alleged to have occurred during service in Afghanistan and Beirut.
Both stories are the product of fantasising, but Mr Hynds has sought to take
advantage of them. He is an intelligent and calculating man who has a very high
level of self-discipline. He was not unaware of the benefit which might accrue to
him from a diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Indeed he seems to have
learned a lot of psychology jargon and has developed the capacity to manipulate his
responses when being interviewed. He has rightly been assessed as a manipulative
and controlling person.
[119] I am also satisfied that Mr Hynds' claims of loss of memory in relation to the second
incident are false. What he can remember and what he claims not to be able to
remember are not consistent. I have referred to the evidence above.36 Mr Hynds
was an evasive witness. His claims of loss of memory are designed to cover up his
refusal to acknowledge his sexual offending.
[120] Mr Hynds has emphasised the violence that was associated with his offending and
the anger which he felt at the time and minimised the sexual component of his
behaviour. In my judgment he has done so probably to maximise his prospects of
release, but possibly also to maintain his mother's faith in him. The rapes were
preplanned, on the second occasion well in advance. I am satisfied that Mr Hynds
acted for his own sexual gratification. However that is not to say that the violence
of his offending should be disregarded. On the contrary the offending disclosed a
high level of alcohol-fuelled violence.
[121] All who have examined Mr Hynds have referred to his history of alcohol abuse. It
is a history which occurred long ago but the risk of a relapse should not be
disregarded.
[122] Professor James and Dr Harden initially diagnosed Antisocial Personality Disorder.
After Dr Madsen pointed out that this diagnosis could not be made because of the
absence of Conduct Disorder as a child, Dr Harden modified the diagnosis to one of
Personality Disorder NOS with antisocial and narcissistic traits. Professor James
34 Paragraph [46].
35 Paragraph [5]-[10].
36 Paragraph [81]-[86].
-- 41 of 52 --
42
wrote that Dr Madsen was technically correct, but for all practical purposes Mr
Hynds has manifested the behaviour of ―Antisocial Personality Disorder‖. Their
evidence was that while Mr Hynds has some psychopathic personality traits, he
does not suffer a Paranoid Personality Disorder. Dr Madsen thought otherwise.
[123] The difficulty which I have in assessing these diagnoses is that all proceed on a
foundation of accepting Mr Hynds' self-report to some extent. Professor James was
initially sceptical, but that scepticism seems to have evaporated. In my judgment it
was well placed. None of the professional witnesses expressed a diagnosis based on
the view of the facts which I have found. None has relied on or even accepted as
accurate the statements and testimony of the witnesses at the original trials. That
makes it difficult to determine what treatment should be required for Mr Hynds.
[124] Whatever the correct psychiatric diagnosis, I am satisfied that Mr Hynds is a self-
centred person who lives in his own somewhat unreal world. He is prone to
fantasising and, I suspect, starved of love. He needs friends, but his controlling and
manipulative characteristics would inhibit obtaining them. He is reasonably
intelligent and above all has an unusually high level of self-discipline. He is
capable of controlling any urge toward violence. Presumably the passage of time
has diminished his libido to some extent.
Continuing detention, supervision or release unconditionally?
[125] There is a difficulty in the drafting of Part 3 of the Act. Section 30 seems to
envisage that the court will affirm a decision that the prisoner is a serious danger to
the community in the absence of a Division 3 order. The only such decision which
could be relevant to the continuing detention order is the court's original decision
that it was satisfied under s 13(1). It has never been suggested that the function of
the court on a review is to reconsider the correctness of that decision, yet that is
what the language of s 30 literally requires. Having regard to s 29 and to the fact
that the obligation under s 27(1) is to review the order, I take it that the requirement
is for the court to consider afresh whether the prisoner is a danger as described at
the time of the review.
[126] An affirmative decision on this point may be made only if the court is satisfied by
acceptable, cogent evidence and to a high degree of probability that the evidence is
of sufficient weight to affirm (ie make) the decision. The Attorney-General carries
the onus of proof.37 In making the decision I must have regard (among other things)
to the reports prepared by the psychiatrists and the extent to which the prisoner
cooperated in the examinations by the psychiatrists.
[127] Mr Hynds did not suggest that any finding other than an affirmative one should be
made. Indeed he urged that there was a need for him to be subject to a supervision
order, something which could only happen after an affirmative finding. That
conclusion also flows from his scores on the psychological tests administered to him
and the opinions of the professional witnesses who have examined him, as well as
from my own assessment of him. There were considerable similarities between the
two incidents of offending, but his lack of offending before 1987 and his continued
incarceration since then prevent any finding that a pattern of offending exists. He
has not participated in all recommended rehabilitative programs, particularly those
37 Section 13(7).
-- 42 of 52 --
43
aimed at sexual offending, but there is little to be gained at this stage from requiring
him to undertake any further group therapy. I take into account the horrendous
nature of the original offending and what seems to me to be a degree of non-
cooperation by Mr Hynds with the psychiatrists. Although he was polite and
generally engaged with the doctors, he told them a series of false stories. I am
satisfied that Mr Hynds is a serious danger to the community in the absence of a
Division 3 order.38
[128] The order in the present case was expressed to be for control only, not for treatment.
There may be a question whether expressing it in those terms was an error. Possibly
the expression ―control, care or treatment‖ in s 13(5)(a) of the Act should be
construed as a unitary phrase, not disjunctively. However the Attorney-General
made no such submission and did not oppose Mr Anderson‘s application for the
correction of the formal order under the slip rule. I must therefore proceed on the
basis of the order as it was made.
[129] On that basis it is not open to me to order that Mr Hynds continue to be subject to
the order for the reason that he needs to be detained for treatment. Only if he needs
to be detained for control may the order be made. Of course if he cannot be
controlled by means of a supervision order without first having treatment in prison,
it would be open to make the order. That would be a difficult matter to prove.
[130] The Attorney submitted that Mr Hynds ought to undertake the Cognitive Self
Changes: Making Choices program before his release. He relied on the evidence of
Dr Madsen to that effect. However Dr Madsen did not go as far as saying that
control by means of a supervision order would be unlikely to succeed in the absence
of the program. Even if I accepted Dr Madsen's evidence, therefore, it would not be
open to me to make the order which the Attorney-General seeks on this evidence.
[131] In fact I do not accept Dr Madsen's evidence regarding the necessity for the group
program. Professor James did not think that program was likely to be helpful and
Dr Harden did not regard it as essential to managing Mr Hynds‘ risk. In addition to
their evidence, I note that Dr Madsen proposed the program as a form of violence
intervention. He did so in consequence of his assessment of Mr Hynds‘ risk of
sexual reoffending being a risk that he would commit a violent sexual offence. By
implication his view was that the risk of sexual offending was reduced if the risk of
violence were reduced. However Mr Hynds has completed a violence intervention
program, albeit in 1998. He has manifested no sign of violence in the no doubt
sometimes stressful environment of prison. I do not regard participation in the
group program as essential.
[132] Even if that conclusion is wrong, it must be remembered that an order may be made
only if there is an unacceptable risk that Mr Hynds will commit a serious sexual
offence. In the absence of such a risk, there is no power under the Act to order
continuing detention - even if the prisoner is likely if released to murder someone,
for example.
[133] In the end, Mr Hynds sought no orders against Mr Anderson. For that reason, and
in the light of the decision in Sambo39, Mr Anderson should probably have been
38 Section 13(4).
39 Attorney-General for the State of Queensland & Anor v Sambo [2012] QCA 171.
-- 43 of 52 --
44
removed as a respondent. He sought no such order. In the event, he adopted the
submissions made on behalf of the Attorney-General. It is unnecessary to consider
whether he had any right to make submissions on the primary question. His
continued representation in fact had a practical benefit in relation to the question of
Mr Hynds' accommodation if released under a supervision order.
[134] The Attorney-General conceded that if I were not satisfied of the need for Mr Hynds
to undertake the CSC program, the evidence pointed in favour of making a
supervision order. He did not seek to rely on the evidence of Professor James that
the individual psychotherapy which he recommended should commence before Mr
Hynds' release. He was right in my judgment not to rely on that evidence. There
are two reasons for this. First, Professor James relied fairly heavily on an
acceptance of what he was told by Mr Hynds. He conceded that if the
circumstances of the offending were truly such as I have found them to have been,
his assessment would be thrown into ―disarray‖.40 Second, in my judgment there is
no prospect of Mr Hynds receiving that psychotherapy. It was recommended by
Professor James in 2010 and in that year this court ordered that the treatment to be
provided include the psychotherapy. For 14 months after that order the Department
provided no therapy at all for Mr Hynds. In the whole of that time it did nothing to
implement that order for psychotherapy. Rather it undermined it by engaging Dr
Madsen to carry out a fresh assessment of Mr Hynds. Dr Boyce, who is the latest to
be engaged as a therapist for Mr Hynds, works in the same practice as Dr Madsen
and is implementing Dr Madsen's plan. I am satisfied that notwithstanding the
Court‘s reasons and order, the Department has no intention of providing the
psychotherapy. It is a tribute to Mr Hynds' self-discipline that he has generally
maintained his composure in the face of bureaucratic inertia.
[135] I am satisfied that adequate protection of the community can be ensured and can
reasonably and practicably be managed by a supervision order. That is implicit in
the Attorney's concession. In reaching that conclusion I have taken into account the
evidence which I have described above. Without derogating from the width of that
statement, I refer particularly to his age (51) and conduct during the 23 years of his
incarceration. I have also taken into account Mrs M‘s willingness to permit him to
live with her and her willingness and that of her husband to give undertakings to the
court to report any violation of the requirements of an order. The latter are matters
which are in my view quite important. Because some controversy attended them, it
will be necessary to refer to them in a little more detail.
Requirements of the order
[136] Mr Hynds recognised the need for stringent requirements to be imposed in any
supervision order:
―Now, I've been listening to - in regards to the supervision order,
and, your Honour, look, I have and I will always state that the more
embodiment for constraints on me within the community is far more
of approval from my perspective than meets the eye and-----
HIS HONOUR: What you're saying is you're pretty happy for me to
be fairly fierce with the requirements of any supervision order; is that
right?
40 Paragraph [104].
-- 44 of 52 --
45
FIRST RESPONDENT: Absolutely, your Honour, because at the
end of the day, you know, we all know through oral evidence by the
doctors first and foremost that I've got a distrust and suspicious
personality disorder.‖
[137] Counsel for the Attorney-General handed up a draft order which contained a
number of ―conditions‖ [sic; semble ―requirements‖] to which he submitted any
supervision order should be subject. A number of drafting issues arise in relation to
it, but they may be put to one side for the moment. There are three issues of
substance which arise; they are emphasised in the next two paragraphs.
[138] Effective supervision of a person pursuant to an order made under the Act
necessarily requires that those carrying out the supervision have a detailed
knowledge of where the person being supervised is at any given time and with
whom he is coming into contact. That entails among other things knowledge of
where that person is living. Effective supervision also requires that those doing the
supervising be in a position to identify conduct which may threaten the adequate
protection of the community.41 That is problematic when the place of residence is
not a place under the control of the supervising authority. Mechanisms need to be
developed for the identification of such conduct. Electronic surveillance and
surveillance by police and corrective services officers are such mechanisms, but so
is reporting of conduct by members of the public. An undertaking to report
breaches of the order may in some circumstances increase one's level of confidence
that threatening conduct will be detected and responded to promptly.
[139] It may also be appropriate that there be requirements in the order relating to Mr
Hynds' treatment.42 Whether there should be such requirements and what they
should be depends upon expert evidence.
Residence
[140] Offenders released under supervision orders frequently spend the early part of their
period of release in residence at the so-called Wacol precinct or its equivalent in
other major cities. In this case nobody has submitted that the order should include a
requirement for Mr Hynds to reside there. Mr Hynds submitted he should live with
his mother at an outer Brisbane suburb; by implication he proposed a requirement to
that effect in the order. He has no alternative accommodation and departmental
officers were unable to identify any suitable alternatives. The question of the
availability of this accommodation is therefore important.
[141] Mrs M deposed that she was willing for Mr Hynds to reside at her place, with her
and her husband. She has agreed to take steps to ensure that if Mr Hynds were
living with her, he would be unable to access alcohol, particularly a wine collection
at the premises. She is however concerned that officers of the Corrective Services
Department or police may disclose the fact that he has committed sexual offences to
neighbours who know that he is living with her:
―I don't want the neighbours to know that there is a sex offender or a
convicted sex offender living in the neighbourhood. It has been my
experience that the public put sex offenders in one basket and that's
41 Section 13(2)(a).
42 Section 13(2)(b).
-- 45 of 52 --
46
paedophiles. Now, Gregory is not a paedophile for a start. Whether
he has committed the sex offences that he's been accused and
convicted of I really don't know and as far as I'm concerned there's
only three people that will ever know the truth. However, I don't
want my neighbours to know. We've only been there six months and
we have fitted in with the neighbourhood quite well and I don't want
that to be disrupted. I don't want to be ostracised by the people who
live in the street or over the back or anywhere else.‖
As the evidence referred to above43 demonstrates, Mrs M said she was unwilling to
have Mr Hynds reside with her if disclosure took place.
[142] The difficulty to which this gives rise is that Ms Morison, the Commissioner of
Queensland Corrective Services, has decided that disclosure of confidential
information under s 341 of the Corrective Services Act 2006 is to be made to
individuals neighbouring his mother's property. The information to be disclosed is
details of Mr Hynds' offending history and accommodation details. A factor in that
decision has been Mr Hynds' failure to be frank with the psychologists and
psychiatrists who have seen him. Ms Embrey suggested that if Mr Hynds were to
live for some months in a facility such as the Wacol precinct and were to be frank
with those assessing him, the delegate might gain sufficient confidence in him for
disclosure to become unnecessary. Mr Hynds was resolutely opposed to doing this.
[143] The question is whether there should be a requirement for Mr Hynds to reside with
his mother and her husband. It would seem to be futile to make a supervision order
containing a requirement which Mr Hynds would be forced to contravene once his
mother withdrew her consent. On the other hand, it may be premature to make a
determination of futility at this stage. Mr Hynds may be able to obtain an injunction
restraining Ms Morison and her officers from making disclosure if s 341 of the
Corrective Services Act has not been complied with. If disclosure takes place Mrs
M may change her mind, or alternative accommodation may be found. If all else
fails Mr Hynds might change his mind and agree to spend some months at the
Wacol precinct.
[144] The Attorney proposed different requirements in relation to Mr Hynds' residence.
He proposed:
―xii. reside at a place within the State of Queensland as approved
by a Corrective Services officer by way of a suitability
assessment and obtain written approval prior to any change of
residence.‖
Such a condition would leave Mr Hynds' place of residence entirely to the judgment
of departmental officers. The evidence presented on the last day of hearing was
that despite their efforts earlier this year, the officers had been unable to find any
other suitable place. There seems little prospect that a place which they would
regard as suitable will be found.
[145] In these circumstances the requirement proposed by the Attorney is in my judgment
inappropriate. Residence is an important consideration and where it is
controversial, the court should not readily delegate the issue to a departmental
officer. The Act confers the discretion on the court, not on the department. In a
43 Transcript 5-31.
-- 46 of 52 --
47
case such as this, where departmental officers have a less than glowing track record,
the court should not avoid making a decision on a major issue itself.
[146] In my judgment there should be a requirement that Mr Hynds reside
―with his mother at her address disclosed in her affidavit filed in the
Supreme Court on 1 March 2012 or at such other address (with or
without his mother) as the court may approve.‖
Approval may be sought pursuant to liberty to apply. I acknowledge that generally
speaking it is undesirable to encourage continuing litigation about matters of detail
in supervision orders, but the present case is exceptional.
Undertakings to the court
[147] In the course of the hearing I indicated to Mr Hynds that I felt a difficulty with his
proposal that he live with his mother, namely, that the level of supervision available
to the Department under such an arrangement might be inadequate. I suggested that
this difficulty might be reduced if Mr and Mrs M were to give undertakings to the
court to report any breach of the requirements of the order of which they might
become aware. I made that suggestion because of the added level of security which
the existence of such undertakings would provide.
[148] In her oral evidence Mrs M said that subject to resolution of some drafting issues,
she would be willing to give such an undertaking. She said that she was sure that
her husband would also give one, although she was reluctant to involve him. Before
she gave that evidence she had obtained independent legal advice. The drafting
issues were set out in a letter which she sent to the Crown Solicitor.44
[149] Ms Morison expressed the view in her written decision regarding disclosure that
Mrs M ―is not a certain ally in terms of risk management‖. That is probably so.
She displayed considerable difficulty in accepting the enormity of her son's
offending. Nonetheless I formed the view that she was truthful and would comply
with any undertaking. Such compliance would ensure that any known breaches
were brought to the notice of the Department much more quickly than would
otherwise be the case. Prompt reporting was a matter of concern to Ms Morison.
[150] The Attorney-General submitted that the existence of undertakings from Mr and
Mrs M was not a consideration which should impact on whether a supervision order
ought to be made. He submitted that that conclusion flowed from s 13(6)(b)(ii) of
the Act45, which requires the court to consider whether requirements can be
reasonably and practicably managed by Corrective Services officers. He submitted
that any undertaking would in effect involve Mrs M in managing the requirements
of the order, something which the Act commits to the officers. I reject that
submission. It involves a misconstruction of the Act.
[151] I shall accept undertakings which Mr and Mrs M might give to the court in the form
described in Requirement 40. I shall endeavour to deal with Mrs M‘s drafting
issues in the formulation of the requirements of the order. There will be a
requirement for Mr Hynds to file affidavits by them containing undertakings given
after receipt of independent legal advice before his release.
44 Exhibit 3.
45 Probably the reference should have been to s 30(4)(b)(ii).
-- 47 of 52 --
48
Treatment
[152] I am not persuaded that Mr Hynds will gain any significant benefit from
undertaking therapy. However all parties supported a requirement for him to
continue individual therapy and there is no reason to think that it could do any harm.
Professor James was anxious that it should continue for a number of years. I shall
include such a requirement.
Duration of order
[153] Not much attention was paid to the duration of any supervision order during the
hearing. Having regard to Mr Hynds' age I see no reason why it should continue for
more than 10 years. Whether it should be for a period as short as five years is a
more difficult question. One does not want to put the State to unnecessary expense
by prolonging the period of supervision unnecessarily, nor to place an unnecessary
drag on Mr Hynds' freedom. On the other hand the paramount consideration is the
adequate protection of the community. That suggests one should err on the side of
caution, and choose a period at the longer end of the available range. The power of
amendment under s 19 is limited to amendment of requirements. That would not
seem to cover amendment of the period for which the order is to have effect stated
under s 13A.
[154] I shall fix the period of the order as 10 years, in accordance with the opinion of Dr
Harden. Liberty to apply generally will be granted and that will enable an
application to be made to vary the period of the order at some future time if either
party thinks it appropriate to take the course.
[155] The requirements which I propose are set out in a schedule to these reasons. I shall
discuss them with the parties before finalising the form of the orders.
Orders
[156] The order will be:
1. Rescind the continuing detention order made on 7 December 2007.
2. Order that Gregory Alan Hynds be released from custody subject to the
requirements set out in Schedule A to the order.
3. Order that this order have effect for 10 years.
4. Stay the operation o f paragraph 1 of this order until Mr Hynds is released
under paragraph 2; and
5. Liberty to apply generally.
-- 48 of 52 --
Schedule A to
Supervision Order
GREGORY ALAN HYNDS
REQUIREMENTS OF SUPERVISION ORDER
Mr Hynds is required to:
1. Report to a Corrective Services Officer at Capalaba within one business day of his
release and advise the officer of his current name and address;
2. Report to, and receive visits from, a Corrective Services officer whenever a Corrective
Services officer reasonably directs him to do so;
3. Notify a Corrective Services officer of every change of his name, place of residence or
employment at least 2 business days before the change happens;
4. Be under the supervision of a Corrective Services officer;
5. Comply with a curfew direction or monitoring direction;
6. Comply with any reasonable direction under section 16B given to the prisoner1;
7. Comply with every reasonable direction of a Corrective Services officer that is not
directly inconsistent with a requirement of the order;
8. Not leave or stay out of Queensland without the written permission of a Corrective
Services officer;
9. Not commit an offence of a sexual nature during the period of the order;
10. Neither do nor attempt to do any intimidating act to any person;
11. Seek permission and obtain approval from a Corrective Services officer prior to
entering into an employment agreement or engaging in volunteer work or paid or
unpaid employment;
12. Forthwith notify a Corrective Services officer of the name and address of his
employer, the address of the premises where he is or will be employed, the nature
of his employment and his hours of work each day;
13. At least 2 days prior to the commencement of any change in the information
notified under Requirement 12, notify a Corrective Services officer of the change
and its details;
14. Notwithstanding Requirement 2, reside with his mother at her address disclosed in
her affidavit filed in the Supreme Court on 1 March 2012 or at such other address
(with or without his mother) as the court may approve;
15. Not stay at a place by way of short term accommodation including overnight stays
without the permission of a Corrective Services officer, and comply with all reasonable
conditions upon that permission;
1 A copy of s 16B is set out at the end of these Requirements.
-- 49 of 52 --
50
16. Not commit an indictable offence during the period of the order;
17. Respond truthfully to enquiries by a Corrective Services officer about his activities,
whereabouts and movements generally;
18. Not knowingly have any direct or indirect contact with a victim of his sexual
offences;
19. Disclose to a Corrective Services officer upon request the name of each person with
whom he associates and respond truthfully to requests for information from a Corrective
Services officer about the nature of the association, address of the associate if known, the
activities undertaken and whether the associate has knowledge of his prior offending
behaviour;
20. Notify a Corrective Services officer of the make, model, colour and registration
number of any vehicle owned or generally driven by him, whether hired or
otherwise obtained for his use;
21. Submit to and discuss with a Corrective Services officer a schedule of his planned and
proposed activities on a weekly basis or as otherwise directed;
22. If directed by a Corrective Services officer, make complete disclosure of the terms of
this supervision order and/or the nature of his past offences to any person with
whom he associates2;
23. Abstain from the consumption of alcohol for the duration of this order;
24. Submit to any form of drug and alcohol testing including both random urinalysis
and breath testing as directed by a Corrective Services officer and authorise the test are
to disclose the results of the testing to a Corrective Services officer;
25. Disclose to a Corrective Services officer all prescription and over the counter medication
obtained by him;
26. Not visit premises licensed to supply or serve alcohol without the prior written
permission of a Corrective Services officer unless he is accompanied throughout the visit by
his mother or her husband;
27. Attend upon and submit to assessment, treatment, individual program and/or
testing by a psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker, counsellor or other
professional mental health worker (―professional‖) as recommended by that
professional;
28. Cooperate with and give truthful answers to any such professional;
29. Permit any such professional and any medical practitioner to disclose any
information relevant to his risk of re-offending and/or his compliance or non-
compliance with this order to a Corrective Services officer;
30. Develop a risk management plan in consultation with a treating psychologist or
psychiatrist and discuss it as directed with Corrective Services officer;
31. Except in an emergency, not use any telephone or other electronic messaging
device not owned by or leased to him in his own name;
32. Tell a Corrective Services officer the make, model and phone number of and the
identity of the service provider for any telephone or other electronic messaging
2 Note that a Corrective Services officer may contact such persons to verify that full disclosure has
occurred.
-- 50 of 52 --
51
device owned by or leased to him within 24 hours of becoming the owner or lessee
thereof;
33. Tell a Corrective Services officer any other information requested by the officer
about any telephone or other electronic messaging device owned by or leased to
him and/or about any service provider and account for any such telephone or other
electronic messaging device;
34. Tell a Corrective Services officer of any change to any information referred to in
Requirement 31 or Requirement 32 within 24 hours of the change happening;
35. At any time, permit a Corrective Services officer to examine any telephone or
other electronic messaging device owned by or leased to him;
36. Authorise a Corrective Services officer to obtain any information about him or his
use of a telephone, other electronic messaging device or Internet service from the
service provider;
37. Except in an emergency, use a computer only by means of a user account opened in his
own name;
38. Obtain and provide to a Corrective Services officer all permissions and authorities
needed for that officer or a computer expert authorised by the officer to examine any
computer used by him, including permission to enter upon the premises where the
computer is and to copy any data, metadata or log relating to him;
39. Provide to a Corrective Services officer all authorisations, passwords and usernames
used by him on a computer or needed to access any data, metadata or log created or
deleted by or relating to him on the computer;
40. Not later than two business days before his release, file and serve herein affidavits by
each of his mother and her husband deposing that
the deponent has read and understood these reasons for judgment and this
order, including these Requirements;
the deponent has received independent legal advice about the Requirements,
about giving the following undertaking to the Court and about the possible
consequences of breaching such an undertaking;
the deponent undertakes to report any breach of the Requirements of which
he or she becomes aware to a Corrective Services officer immediately upon
becoming aware of the breach.
-- 51 of 52 --
52
Extract from the Dangerous Prisoners (Sexual Offenders) Act 2003 as at 22 October
2012
16B Other directions
(1) A corrective services officer may give a released prisoner a reasonable direction
about—
(a) the prisoner‘s accommodation; or
Example—
a direction that the released prisoner may only reside at a place of residence
approved by a corrective services officer
(b) the released prisoner‘s rehabilitation or care or treatment; or
Example—
a direction that the released prisoner participate in stated treatment programs
(c) drug or alcohol use by the released prisoner.
(2) A direction under subsection (1) may relate to a matter even though the relevant
order imposes a requirement about the matter, either generally or specifically.
(3) However, the direction must not be directly inconsistent with a requirement of the
order.
-- 52 of 52 --
Official source: https://www.sclqld.org.au/caselaw/QSC/2012/318