A man who sexually assaulted and murdered a Tumut toddler in 1988 has had a parole application formally refused.
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Douglas James Wade, now aged 55, pleaded not guilty at trial but was sentenced to life in prison in 1989 for killing the 22-month-old girl he was babysitting.
Wade’s sentence was later reduced to a minimum of 26 years on appeal in 2013.
Wade had been due to face a public NSW State Parole Authority hearing at Sydney West Law Courts on January 29.
A Corrective Services NSW spokesperson said Wade had withdrawn his application for a public hearing.
“This offender withdrew his application for parole and it was formally refused by the State Parole Authority on January 21,” the spokesperson said.
“The offender will next be eligible for anniversary parole consideration at a private meeting on June 14, 2019.”
The victim and her family cannot be named for legal reasons.
Solicitor for the victim’s family, Howard Brown, told The Daily Advertiser there had been mixed emotions over the parole decision.
“The family had obviously made all the arrangements to travel to Sydney next week,” he said.
“We have fortunately been given enough notice to cancel all that without any cost.
“But of course, the problem is the application was never competent in the first place, It should have been refused and stood over for another 12 months, but everything is done to favour the prisoner.
“It gives the family another six months of breathing space but this issue just never goes away. It’s somewhat distressing for them.”
Mr Brown has previously criticised Corrective Services NSW for its proposal to house Wade in a area that could not guarantee reliable electronic monitoring.
According to the State Parole Authority, the only people that attend private parole meetings “are the five State Parole Authority members and the Secretary”.
“There is no opportunity for offenders or their legal representative to attend the private meetings,” the website stated.
“On occasions, approved visitors may also attend to observe these meetings.”
The private meeting will determine whether Wade can proceed with another public hearing in which to apply for parole.
Mr Brown said if the private meeting allowed Wade to proceed with a parole application, the public hearing would likely be in August.
Wade has unsuccessfully applied for parole on four previous occasions.
The prospect of Wade’s release and his nominated residence close to Tumut has caused great concern for the victim’s family, who dreaded the possibility of running into him.
Late last year, Wade was approved for day leave from prison “with the restriction that he wears an electronic monitoring bracelet,” according to a Corrective Services spokesperson.
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