The sister of Anne-Marie Culleton, who was brutally raped and murdered by Jonathan Peter Bakewell in 1984, is vocally criticising the failings of the justice system that continually allowed her sister’s killer to be released from prison despite repeated violations of his parole. Originally sentenced to life imprisonment in the Northern Territory, Bakewell’s sentence was revised in 2004 to merely 25 years due to changes in legislation.
In 2005, he sought to serve his sentence closer to family in South Australia, which was granted. After being released on parole in February of this year, Bakewell has since breached his parole conditions six times, predominantly due to drug-related offences. The recent revelation of another alleged breach has intensified concerns regarding public safety and the effectiveness of parole regulations.
Culleton’s sister’s distress reflects widespread frustration over how the system manages dangerous offenders after their release. The ongoing cycles of reoffending highlight significant gaps in the justice system, prompting calls for more stringent measures to protect the community from convicted individuals like Bakewell. This situation raises important questions about the balance between rehabilitation and public safety in the context of parole.