A senior Corrections commissioner who labelled Steven James Hunter a “model parolee”, said there were no signs he would return to old habits or be a risk to society, an inquest heard.
But just 11 days after Hunter’s parole ended, on November 10, 2012, the Bacchus Marsh man brutally bashed and stabbed 22-year-old Sarah Cafferkey.
He later dumped her body in a wheelie bin at Point Cook and poured concrete over the body.
Nine days later her body was found by police.
Deputy commissioner of operations for Corrections Victoria, Roderick Wise, told the inquest Hunter had never given Corrections staff any reason to think the already convicted killer was at risk of reoffending.
But Mr Wise agreed Hunter could have been “putting up a facade”, and said there had been a number of policy changes since Ms Cafferkey’s death that could prevent a similar miscalculation.
Leading community corrections officer Jenni Johnstone, who began dealing with Hunter in mid-2011, told the inquest his positive plans for the future led her to believe he would not be a risk to the community while on parole.
“Mr Hunter had stable accommodation, he was working,” Ms Johnstone said.
Hunter had gone back to school, planned to work in Western Australia’s mines at the end of his parole, and had bought a dog, she said.
“It’s a big responsibility. It’s an indication he wanted to remain in the community,” Ms Johnstone said. “Nothing stood out that was unusual to other offenders.”
But Ms Johnstone said she had not received any specific guidance or training to distinguish potentially manipulative parolees.
The inquest, before state coroner Ian Gray, concluded last week.
– AAP
