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Indecent assault of four New Plymouth children, three girls and one boy, aged between four and 12 between 1993 and September 2005
Sexual violation of a woman having an epiliptic fit in 1991
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.
none known
Born 1960
At large in Hamilton
Sentenced to 6 years with a 4 year minimum non-parole period in April 2006
Background
Taranaki Daily News story 28th April 2006
A plea for preventative detention for a high-risk New Plymouth paedophile was unsuccessful when he was sentenced yesterday for sexually assaulting young children. In arguing for preventative detention, the Crown told the New Plymouth District Court that two psychiatrists had assessed Murray Samuel Marsh (46) as having a high risk of reoffending.
His victims were four children, three girls and one boy, aged between four and 12. The indecent assaults took place between 1993 and September last year. His 12-year-old victim, who spoke in court, told of the effects the offending had on her.
Crown prosecutor Justin Marinovich told the court that Marsh had sexual fantasies about children and could not control himself around them. Mr Marinovich said Marsh should be sentenced at the High Court, because offenders could not be given preventative detention at district court level. He argued that preventative detention, where the Parole Board would determine whether Marsh was safe to return to the community in five years' time, was a greater safeguard.
To qualify for preventative detention, an offender must have committed a serious offence in the past. In 1991, Marsh was charged with sexually violating a woman having an epileptic fit. Defence lawyer Barry Henderson said Marsh was keen to get help to control himself. In rejecting the Crown's submissions, Judge Louis Bidois sentenced Marsh to six years' jail with a minimum non-parole period of four years.