AAP General News (Australia)
08-18-2000
Qld: Child killer parole comments are gutter politics, Beattie
BRISBANE, Aug 18 AAP - The state opposition had stooped to gutter politics by commenting
on convicted child-killer Valmae Beck's possible parole status, Queensland Premier Peter
Beattie said today.
Beck, who was jailed 12 years ago for the 1987 murder of 12-year-old Sian Kingi on
Queensland's Sunshine Coast, today applied for work release from her medium security Townsville
prison.
Beck and her husband Barrie Watts, who also was convicted of the murder, are both serving
life sentences.
News of Beck's application today prompted an outburst from Liberal leader David Watson,
who said the killer's prison papers should be stamped "never to be released".
"Life should mean life," Dr Watson said.
"Any board that approves the release of this vile monster should be sacked."
Mr Beattie said Dr Watson's comments were wrong and would only serve to hurt Sian Kingi's family.
"This person (Beck) has absolutely no sympathy from me but there are proper processes
here to be gone through," Mr Beattie told a news conference.
"And while I'm appalled like everyone else about the tragedies of this poor young girl
and I have no sympathy for this individual at all, there are due processes and they should
be allowed to run their course."
Government sources today confirmed Beck, who changed her name to Fay Cramb four years
ago, would have her application for a work release heard today.
However the sources said her request was unlikely to succeed.
Mr Beattie said Dr Watson should stop climbing aboard every political bandwagon that came along.
"I think it is wrong to try and politicise a process that causes anguish and concern
for the family," he said.
"This sort of cheap shot stuff is really pathetic in the extreme.
"I don't think politicians should be in the gutter, which is where he is."
AAP bja/sc/cjh/bwl
KEYWORD: BECK BEATTIE
2000 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.
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