Trevor Holton, now aged 40, was sentenced to a maximum 16 year jail term after he ran down Highway Patrol officer Jim Affleck, 43, on the Hume Highway south of Campbelltown in 2001. His sentence is due to expire next January.
Holton had pleaded guilty to manslaughter but was on convicted of murder.
His non-parole period was only 12 years which caused outrage that the cop killer did not receive a life sentence. He escaped the crash uninjured as did a four-year-old girl who was in the stolen car.
Trish Affleck said she felt "sheer anger" when she was told Holton had been granted parole, seven months before his sentence expires, earlier this month.
Since being eligible for parole he has been refused twice.
"I was devastated. I knew this day would come. It’s sheer anger and frustration. Fifteen years has gone in the blink of an eye. I’ve got a life sentence," she said.
Holton tried to blame the crash on Mr Affleck by telling police that the officer had moved into his way as he hurtled along the highway at more than 160km/h.
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Mr Affleck was the first officer to use road spikes in NSW and they only covered one lane so he was moving across the road.
Holton’s murder trial heard he had swerved off the road to avoid the road spikes because he was heavily influenced by a computer game Need for Speed.
Mrs Affleck said she was not in court when Holton gave his testimony but had recently read about Holton’s excuse.
"When I saw that I thought you absolute arsehole. There are no words for the scumbag he is. He is a bottom feeder," she said.
"Jim can’t speak for himself so hopefully the message will get out there. Judges have to give lengthy sentences for the victim’s family.
“We are left with a life sentence. You can’t ever talk to that person again."
Mrs Affleck has since moved away from Picton where the couple lived but said she constantly thought about her former husband of nine years. "He was my best friend. We tried to make the most and enjoy our life," she said.
“We are left with a life sentence. You can’t ever talk to that person again"
Corrective Services Commissioner Peter Severin opposed parole during the lengthy hearing stating Holton’s release was not in the public interest. Holton has not been a "model prisoner" and had been caught with contraband during his custody, a prison source said.
Corrective Services Minister David Elliott said he was seeking legal advice on whether "we can appeal the State Parole Authority’s decision to grant parole to Holton".
“This offender killed a police officer who was simply doing his job of protecting our community. If there are real concerns that he should be kept behind bars, then we should have a closer look at the decision," he said.
“I want the community to be assured that decisions about these kinds of offenders are carefully and thoroughly considered so it can have confidence in the administration of justice.”
Holton will walk free sometime next week and will be monitored for the next seven months of his sentence and cannot visit six local government areas linked to the Affleck family, including Campbelltown.
from News.com.au http://ift.tt/1ShAjn7
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