April 23, 2013, 6:18 pm / Derryn Hinch / Today Tonight
Child rapist walks free.
A court has ruled that a man who committed a ghastly crime against a little girl should walk free and unsupervised.
Hans Lester Watt abducted and raped a three-year-old girl. The 42-year-old was drunk when he took the toddler and assaulted her.
According to Watt it was revenge to get back at the innocent little girl's grandmother whom he claimed had insulted his dead mother.
Watt was jailed for 11 years and was due for release last year.
The Queensland Attorney-General applied to have Watt classified as a dangerous sex offender; Watt would have his jail-term either extended or he would be released with a supervision order.
The court refused the request because the judge found the circumstances were 'unique' - that Watt was not an unacceptable risk.
A psychiatrist said the chances of Watt re-offending were low if he did not drink alcohol; moderate if he did drink and said the best chance of rehabilitation was if he lived in a dry Aboriginal community.
The Attorney-General appealed the judge's decision.
Yesterday the Supreme Court turned him down and upheld the earlier ruling to let a child rapist walk free - unsupervised.
Derryn's verdict: My mantra for years has been - who's looking after the children? In my opinion, the Queensland Supreme Court certainly is not, this decision is a travesty.
A court has ruled that a man who committed a ghastly crime against a little girl should walk free and unsupervised.
Hans Lester Watt abducted and raped a three-year-old girl. The 42-year-old was drunk when he took the toddler and assaulted her.
According to Watt it was revenge to get back at the innocent little girl's grandmother whom he claimed had insulted his dead mother.
Watt was jailed for 11 years and was due for release last year.
The Queensland Attorney-General applied to have Watt classified as a dangerous sex offender; Watt would have his jail-term either extended or he would be released with a supervision order.
The court refused the request because the judge found the circumstances were 'unique' - that Watt was not an unacceptable risk.
A psychiatrist said the chances of Watt re-offending were low if he did not drink alcohol; moderate if he did drink and said the best chance of rehabilitation was if he lived in a dry Aboriginal community.
The Attorney-General appealed the judge's decision.
Yesterday the Supreme Court turned him down and upheld the earlier ruling to let a child rapist walk free - unsupervised.
Derryn's verdict: My mantra for years has been - who's looking after the children? In my opinion, the Queensland Supreme Court certainly is not, this decision is a travesty.
