New law could put 'Beast' in jail

FAIRFAX

BEAST OF BLENHEIM: Stewart Murray Wilson.

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A new law targeting "high-risk" sex and violent offenders could be used to send the Beast of Blenheim back to jail.

Justice Minister Judith Collins yesterday introduced legislation which will allows the courts to keep dangerous criminals in prison beyond their original sentence.

It comes less than a month after serial sex offender Stewart Murray Wilson was released into the grounds of Whanganui Prison.

The new legislation, which could be in force by next year, would allow the chief executive of Corrections to apply to the court for a public protection order if Wilson's behaviour indicates he is a risk.

Ms Collins said the PPOs were aimed at inmates who posed a "very high risk" of committing a crime on release - mostly child sex offenders. They would be kept in the grounds of a prison until the High Court ruled they were safe for release.

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