Prisoner killed paedophile inmate

AAP/news.com.au ^ | March 12, 2004

[Piefloater]

CONVICTED paedophile John Thomas Kennett lasted less than a month in Junee Correctional Centre before he was found dead in his cell.

His fellow inmate, Harry Robinson, was today found guilty of his murder at the south-western NSW correctional centre on September 17, 1998.

Robinson had pleaded not guilty in the NSW Supreme Court to the crime.

But after deliberating for two-and-a-half days a jury of six men and six women found Robinson guilty of murdering the former Orange schoolteacher by bashing him and stomping on his head.

Crown Prosecutor Tim Hoyle, SC, said the inmates in the same cell group as Kennett became aware he was serving prison time for sexual offences against young males.

Another inmate, Terry Johnson, had stolen papers from Kennett's cell after other prisoners had teased him about trying to start a sexual relationship with a paedophile.

The court was told the legal papers, which proved Kennett was a paedophile, were shown to a group of inmates.

Mr Hoyle said the group then discussed killing Kennett while "playing cards and partaking of some home brew".

"There was a conversation about the need to get rid of him," Mr Hoyle said.

A prisoner, Matthew Digby, told the court he saw Robinson and another inmate, Mark Brazel, kicking and punching Kennett.

Digby said the prisoners had discussed getting rid of Kennett but that only meant assaulting him so that he would have to be moved to another facility, not killing him.

"We were all just not very happy because what was in the statement wasn't very nice," Digby said.

"Terry (Johnson) got the shits because there were people in that section of the jail that shouldn't have been (there)."

Another inmate called Noel Roach said he heard Robinson say "he was going to thump the deceased".

"Later he heard the accused say he was unable to stomp on the deceased's head hard enough because he had a sore knee," Mr Hoyle said.

Robinson's counsel Mitchell Paish told the court Digby was an accomplice and was acting as a lookout when he claims to have witnessed the murder.

Digby denied the claim and said he only followed the men out of curiosity.

The matter was adjourned for sentencing submissions on April 2.

[Paul Atreides]

How long, before this is classified as a "hate crime?"

[Wally_Kalbacken]

Swift justice in River City.

[cyborg]

by bashing him and stomping on his head.

*** BWAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA GOOD!

[perfect stranger]

That seems a horrible way to die, but I'd imagine that this instance alone does more to deter paedophiles than existing laws.

[Palladin]

We could use some of that Aussie-style justice here in the USA.

Case in point: Joseph Smith, abductor-rapist-murderer of Carlie Brucia.

and

Brian David Mitchell, abductor-rapist of Elizabeth Smart.

and

about 4,000 RC priests.

[GeronL]

well. There are thousands and thousands of convicted child molesters released from jail and prison every day. They sometimes list them in the local papers.

[Piefloater]

As I understand it a "hate crime" is broadly defined as criminal conduct motivated by prejudice.

Prejudice means an unfavorable opinion formed beforehand based on inadequate facts.

It appears that these guys based their opinion on pretty solid facts so their action should not be considered a "hate crime".

However, I am sure that there are millions of bleeding heart liberals out there who would disagree.

[TheDon]

And here I always thought that putting a murderer in jail for life would prevent them from committing anymore murders...

[Senormechanico]

This ought to earn him an early release!
Pin a medal on him while you're at it.

SM

[3catsanadog]

Well, it's one way to stop pedophiles from being let out of jail to molest and/or murder again.

[Mentos]

Later he heard the accused say he was unable to stomp on the deceased's head hard enough because he had a sore knee

When will America's inhumane penal system deal with the festering issue of Mr. Robinson'sw sore knee? Amnesty International should look into this!