| New law written to keep Hoddle street killer Julian Knight in jail for life |
 Melbourne mass murderer Julian Knight will remain behind bars until he is dead or so ill he will pose no risk to others, under a new law created just for him.
The Hoddle street killer, who was sentenced to life in prison with a 27-year non-parole period for killing seven people and injuring 19 during a rampage in 1987, is eligible for parole in May.
But the government has stepped in and unveiled a new law to be introduced into parliament on Tuesday severely restricting the circumstances in which the adult parole board can grant Knight parole.
The premier, Denis Napthine, said the law would apply solely to Knight, who has failed to show any remorse for murdering seven people and injuring 19 others during a shooting rampage in 1987.
“This is guaranteeing that he remains in jail until he’s dead or so seriously incapacitated he’s no risk to other people in Victoria or indeed in the community,” Napthine told reporters on Tuesday.
Napthine admitted the legislation, which will name Knight, is unusual but warranted in the circumstances.
He said his government’s toughening of parole laws would have made it “extremely unlikely” Knight would have received consideration for parole, but the government wanted certainty.
“To create certainty for victim’s families, for those traumatised by the Hoddle Street massacre, for those Victorians who want a safer Victoria, we wanted the certainty to ensure Mr Knight remained behind bars,” he said.
Napthine said Knight, who is in maximum security jail, had been a difficult prisoner and declared a vexatious litigant.
“He has a history of issues in prison, which shows he has no respect for the health, safety and wellbeing of his fellow man,” he said.
Peter Butts, one of the first police officers to respond to the Hoddle street massacre in Melbourne’s Clifton Hill, said there would be wide support for the new law.
“Certainly the comments that I’ve heard this morning from the premier and others would be well and truly endorsed,” Butts said.
“I genuinely believe it’s a huge win for the community at large, particularly if this legislation is passed.”
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