Latest news with #ScottMcDougall
ABC News
17-07-2025
- ABC News
Victim's family horrified convicted double-murderer Scott Alexander McDougall could be released
The family of a woman killed with a meat cleaver in a violent double murder in Canberra are "heartbroken" the killer may be released back into the community. Queanbeyan man Scott Alexander McDougall received two life sentences when he was found guilty of murdering his friends Struan Bolas and Julie Tattersall, also known as Julie Franco, in a house in Downer in September 2008. Ms Tattersall's sister Amy Butterworth said her family had just this week been told McDougall had applied for a transitional program, which could see him given short-term release, to assist with reintegration into the community. "We're angry and we're also really shocked that someone like Scott McDougall can have the right to apply for this," Ms Butterworth said. "How the corrections facility can even put forward that he would be a suitable candidate for this is absolutely diabolical. "The amount of violence and the frenzied, blood-lust attack that he killed my sister and Mr Bolas with is just horrifying." McDougall killed the pair with a meat cleaver before setting fire to the building. In handing down his sentence in 2011, Justice Malcolm Gray said he considered the murders to be in the most serious category, describing them as ferocious and callous. Justice Gray said McDougall had "given into a frenzied blood lust and killed his friends in the most brutal way". He handed down two life sentences for both counts of murder and five years in jail for arson. When he was sentenced in 2011, McDougall was the first convicted murderer in the ACT in more than a decade. Ms Butterworth said her family had received "very minimal" and "sporadic" communication from the ACT Victims Register. McDougall's security classification was downgraded from maximum to medium in the years after his sentencing. Ms Tattersall's family was not told McDougall was downgraded again to minimum security late last year. The Victims Register sent Ms Butterworth a text message earlier this week saying there had been a change in McDougall's case, before following up with an email. She now has just a few weeks to enter a written submission outlining any concerns about the possibility of McDougall entering the program and being released. "People need to know how awful it was because that's what they're looking at — this offender being released back into the community. "I understand this could be a great program for people that have misdemeanour offences but seriously — Scott McDougall, the double murderer?" Ms Butterworth said her elderly parents never expected to face the prospect that their daughter's killer might be released into the community, and it filled the entire family with fear. In a statement, an ACT Government spokesperson said a number of matters were taken into account when determining a prisoner's application in the Transitional Release Program, including the views of any known victims and the likelihood of reoffending. The spokesperson said applications under the program were, in most instances, only for those detainees approaching eligibility for parole. McDougall is not specifically eligible for parole, but may apply to the Attorney-General for a release license. "ACT Corrective Services takes the likelihood of an upcoming release into consideration when determining suitability for acceptance into the Transitional Release Program," the spokesperson said. The spokesperson said the government was reviewing the flow of information to victims of crime in relation to the classification of offenders.
The Guardian
25-03-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Queensland police rejects diversity targets including ‘critical' proposal to hold senior officers accountable
The Queensland Police Service has formally rejected key recommendations of a landmark workforce diversity review, including calls for police leadership to be held accountable for addressing the lack of women and First Nations people in the ranks. The review, conducted by the state Human Rights Commission, was demanded by the 2022 commission of inquiry that found a 'failure of leadership' had allowed a culture of sexism, misogyny and racism to flourish. Human rights commissioner Scott McDougall's report found that significant 'resistance' to reform remained within the police service (QPS), in particular among the 'most senior leaders' of the organisation. His review called for diversity targets to address very low numbers of women, First Nations people and people from culturally and linguistically diverse (Cald) communities joining the QPS. The police service accepted most of the recommendations but 'declined' the call to establish minimum diversity targets at each rank. The QPS also declined to implement performance indicators – prioritising diversity and inclusion – that would measure whether members of the executive leadership team had contributed to reform. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email McDougall described the recommendation as 'critical' and said he was disappointed it had been rejected. 'This response confirms our findings about the strength of resistance within the service that continues to act as a barrier, particularly to the progression of women in the service.' In the report, the Human Rights Commission identified 'significant organisational and individual resistance' within the QPS to reform. It said resistant views were 'most strongly held by QPS's most senior leaders in the executive leadership team, noncommissioned officers and male officers'. 'Throughout the review the commission heard from many dedicated police officers – from all levels and backgrounds – who want real change,' the report said. 'They are officers who joined the police motivated by the opportunity to serve the community, remain deeply committed to QPS and its mission, and have made significant personal sacrifices for this cause. However, their belief in QPS's capacity for change is being tested. 'Positive change requires reconstructing some of QPS's most deeply held values and ways of working, permanently altering power dynamics and how benefits are distributed.' McDougall said it was also disappointing the QPS had ceased taking advice from an advisory panel established to guide the review process. 'The review made 36 recommendations to drive equality across the service,' he said. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion 'The commission's extensive research found that to access the best talent, and get the most out of its workforce, QPS needs to dismantle structural disadvantages to women, First Nations and culturally diverse peoples. 'The commission's review was informed by input from over 2,700 QPS members, police liaison officers and recruits. I am pleased that QPS has accepted, without limitations, to embed victim-centred and trauma-informed practices into their policies.' In a statement on Wednesday – released hours before the announcement of Olympic venues in Brisbane – the QPS said it had accepted or partially accepted many of the recommendations. Some were accepted subject to the resourcing decisions by the state government. 'Where recommendations are unable to be progressed, the proposed work is either considered out of scope, the intent can be delivered through other means, or there are significant impediments to making progress at this time,' the statement said. 'Additionally, some of the recommendations align with ongoing work resulting from the commission of inquiry into QPS responses to domestic and family violence.' Acting deputy commissioner Mark Kelly said it might take 'some time' to implement the accepted recommendations, but that the 'QPS is committed to driving meaningful change and striving to become a more inclusive organisation that better reflects the diversity of our community'.
