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Peter Holdem
.
Abducted and murdered six year old Louisa Damodran in Christchurch in October 1986.
Had just been released from jail for the attempted rape of a ten year old girl.
A number of other convictions for sexual offending against young girls.
A huge string of burglary and dishonesty offences.
Louisa Damodran
.
none known
Born 1956
Prison
Sentenced to life imprisonment (seven years at that time) in July 1987
First parole eligibility date December 1993
Next parole hearing November 2010
Background
NZ Herald story here and details of his parole hearing here and his being denied here
here
Parole Board decision documented here
The Press, 24 November 2007
Child killer Peter Holdem is being denied a release hearing for an unprecedented second term of three years, because he remains an "extreme risk". Holdem, who sexually molested, then killed, Christchurch six-year-old Louisa Damodran in 1986, has had more intensive sex offender therapy than any other New Zealand prisoner, a Parole Board decision yesterday revealed.
However, despite more than 20 years of therapy, Holdem has failed to make any steps towards rehabilitation, the report says.
The board yesterday took the extremely unusual step of imposing a three-year delay before Holdem's next parole hearing for the second consecutive time. The board has never done this for any prisoner in the past. Every prisoner is entitled to a yearly Parole Board hearing, except in circumstances where an inmate's behaviour and risk to society makes release untenable. In such a case, the board can decide to delay the inmate's next hearing for three years.
Holdem had a history of sex attacks on young girls dating back to the 1970s and had just been released from jail for raping a 10-year-old Christchurch girl when he abducted Louisa. He is now serving a life sentence for her murder. The board said Holdem admitted during a treatment programme there were "several hundred victims". "Today he says there have been about 14 others. He said that he was exaggerating for reasons of acceptance and grandiosity last time."
Louisa's father, Bob Damodran, told The Press he was pleased the Parole Board recognised the threat his daughter's killer still posed. The Parole Board report said Holdem was still an extreme risk.
"The psychological report we have received shows him still being at high risk of sexual and violent offending. There have been no treatment gains for him. There is a very poor prognosis for his future. He has had a number of interventions over the years, but nothing which has diminished his risk of offending."
The report said that, despite grim predictions for Holdem's likely release, he told the Parole Board he "wishes himself to keep on trying". During his appearance before the board, Holdem was "sad and upset", the report said. Parole Board spokeswoman Sonja de Friez said no other prisoner, to her knowledge, had had their parole hearing postponed two consecutive times. The postponement reflected the threat Holdem still posed to society, she said. A special Parole Board, consisting of seven members, including a forensic psychiatrist, decide whether to postpone prisoners' hearings.
The Parole Board annual report show five inmates had their hearings postponed last year and another five had their hearings delayed the year before. Sensible Sentencing Trust spokesman Garth McVicar said the decision to postpone Holdem's hearing was a sign the board was starting to take note of the community's opposition to parole for serious offenders. "It's a good sign, but the three-year postponement is still the best they can do. We need to have people sentenced to life unable to get parole, so the victims don't have to go through the trauma every one or three years."
The father of the victim and a former detective involved in his capture both know that he will reoffend if he is released. Holdem has never shown any remorse. The Psychological report states him as currently remaining a "very high risk" of violent or sexual reoffending, he has made no progress at all towards getting treatment. A postponement order was lodged in September 2004 so that his next parole hearing would not be at least another three years. A second postponement order was made in November 2007 which again declines Holdem the right to be considered for parole for three years. Easier to lock the beast up for life and be done with it?
The board's decision came after it heard submissions from Louisa's family, which had been firmly against Holdem being released because of fears he would reoffend in a similar way. It noted that Holdem understood the family's view. "The psychological report we have received shows him still being at high risk of sexual and violent offending," the board said. "There have been no treatment gains for him. There is a very poor prognosis for his future. "He has had a number of interventions over the years but nothing which has diminished his risk of reoffending. In short, nothing has changed since he was last seen by the Parole Board. "We are concerned about the effect of the annual cycle of parole consideration on victims and victim's families. "In his case, it seems possible that there will not be the progress which others might make."
From Otago Daily Times December 1997
The now retired police officer who put the killer of 6-year-old Christchurch girl Louisa Damodran behind bars still has nightmares about the case. "Whatever the psychiatrists and psychologists say, they can't guarantee he won't kill again," former detective inspector Mel Griebel said when asked about Peter Holdem's eligibility for parole. "He will come out and kill again. There is no doubt about that. I don't know what treatment he has had but he is not worth the risk."
Holdem was sentenced to a mandatory life term for Louisa’s murder in 1986. Having served 10 years of his sentence he is now eligible for parole. Holdem, who had a record of offending against young girls, abducted Louisa on her way home from school. He took her to an isolated part of the Waimakariri River and threw her into the water after allegedly sexually abusing her.
Louisa's father, Bob Damodran, said Holdem's eligibility for parole had come as a complete surprise. He was not on the Victims Notification Register but would see his solicitor to get his name included and to talk about making a submission. People on the register are notified when certain inmates become eligible for parole and can make submissions on whether parole should be granted. "He will re-offend. He will do the same thing again and there is no way he should be allowed out. I don't think he can be rehabilitated," Mr Damodran said.
Mr Griebel said he had tried to get on the victims' register but had been refused. He was now exploring other avenues and hoped to have his submissions on Holdem's parole considered. "In my 32 years in the police I was never interested in the penalty except in this case. I cannot say it strongly enough. He must not be allowed out," he said. Holdem had escaped a term of preventive detention because the Crown had not been able to prove a charge of indecent assault in Louisa's case.
