Repeat Sexual Offender Becomes Murderer – Lax Parole Cited

It’s a case that shook all of Britain five years ago when it happened, and as the inquest into the murder of single mom Naomi Bryant reopens at Winchester Crown Court, the sordid tale of rape and murder is being reopened once again. Anthony Rice raped and killed (he stabbed her at least 15 times and strangulated her as well) Naomi in 2006, just nine months after he was paroled from the Old Bailey after serving a 15 year sentence for attempted rape in 1989. He was on licence at the Elderfield probation hostel in Winchester, Hampshire, from where he escaped and fled into the city. He met the woman, and over the course of a few hours, raped and murdered her.

The inquest seeks to bring to light the carelessness and negligence of the probation officials and others who were responsible for Rice’s release, especially since he had attacked another woman with a brick at Southampton four months before raping and murdering Naomi Bryant. The repeat offender was denied parole twice before a board let him out stating that he was only a “minimal risk”.

Although the coroner has returned a verdict of murder, there are still certain issues that surround the killing that need to be dealt with. Mainly, the inquest seeks to determine if the officials concerned were more worried about Rice’s human rights violation than their duty to the public and their safety.

This murder and subsequent inquest raise interesting questions on the issue of parole – how do we know that prisoners who are released on parole have actually reformed and are ready to start life afresh? Do convicted rapists continue to feel the need to attack women even decades after they’ve been incarcerated for their crimes? And are all murderers looking to kill again when they get out?

It’s a dicey issue, one that straddles the boundary delineating human rights of prisoners and public safety. Parole officers are responsible for the people they let out of prison. They are the ones who evaluate the readiness of the prisoner to re-enter society, which is why they have to take into account the heinous nature of the crime they’re being incarcerated for. Rape, murder and other forms of physical violence are the worst form of crimes, and whether attempted or actually done, they deserve the harshest of punishments. Emotional murderers may repent their hasty actions, but deliberate planners and compulsive rapists are in a different category – the need to hurt and humiliate is like a disease in their blood, so unless parole officers are absolutely sure that they will not violate their parole and that they have definitely turned over a new leaf, it’s not wise to let them out of maximum security prison.

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This guest post is contributed by Brooklyn White, who writes on the topic of Forensic Science Technician Schools.

She can be reached at brookwhite26-AT-Gmail.com.