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Offender Database
Stewart Wilson
Known as "The Beast of Blenheim"
Rape (9 charges), attempted rape (1 charge), indecent assault (6 charges), cruelty to children (2 charges), assault (2 charges), bestiality (1 charge) and many others.
The charges spanned the period from 1971 to 1994
Had earlier been convicted on a number of burglary charges.
.
none known
none known
Born 1946
Rolleston Prison
Jailed for 21 years in March 1996
Denied release on parole April 2012 after a section 107 application by the Prison Service was approved
His "applicable release date" September 2012
Background
NZ Herald story here
See this excellent article at crime.co.nz
Last parole board decision documented here
From Christchurch Press story 23/09/2008
The man dubbed the "Beast of Blenheim" has had his bid for parole turned down. The decision on the fate of Stewart Murray Wilson was announced by the Parole Board today, which said he had been assessed as variously posing a high or very high risk of serious sexual or violent recidivism. Wilson was convicted in 1996 on a raft of sex offences involving 16 female victims over 23 years. The charges included rape, bestiality, stupefying, ill-treatment of children and indecent assault. He was found guilty on all but two of 25 charges, and sentenced to 21 years in prison.
Wilson had pleaded not guilty to nine rape charges, one attempted rape charge, six indecent assault charges, two cruelty to children charges, two assault charges, one bestiality charge, two charges of attempting to drug to take advantage, and two charges of drugging women for sex. The board said Wilson's lawyer, whose name was withheld, had anticipated it would be imposing conditions today to take effect on Wilson's final release date of December 2. "We are not prepared to do so," the board said. "Mr Wilson has been assessed as variously posing a high or very high risk serious sexual or violent recidivism. In those circumstances it is essential that he have a robust release proposal. He has not."
The board said it would see him again in November for the imposition of release conditions. But Wilson may stay behind bars if a special order under section 107 of the Parole Act 2002 is made. Some offenders sentenced before July 2002 may only appear before the board once, and that is to set their release conditions. Offenders in this category (serious violent offenders) are required to be released after serving two thirds of their sentence, which is known as their final release date. Release is not discretionary with the Parole Board's only role being to impose conditions. However, under section 107 the chief executive of the Department of Corrections may apply to the board for an order that an offender be kept in prison beyond their final release date.
Offenders subject to orders under section 107, or section 105 of the Criminal Justice Act 1985, must have the order reviewed at least once every six months. The law changed in 2002, allowing the board to hold an offender in prison until the end of their sentence. In 2006/07 there were 20 section 107 hearings, of which 95 percent (or 19) were approved. There were 92 reviews of section 107 orders, of which 93.5 percent (or 86) were approved. In 2007/8 there were 21 section 107 hearings, 20 approved. There were 102 reviews in 2007/8, 100 were approved.
From Christchurch Press story 18/09/2007
The man dubbed the Beast of Blenheim is set to be freed in December next year, seven years before his sentence ends, unless the head of Corrections applies for a special exemption. Stewart Murray Wilson is serving a 21 year sentence for multiple counts of drugging and raping women, assault and bestiality. Despite the Parole Board saying Wilson was highly likely to reoffend and rejecting his parole, he has a release date of December 2008. The situation has arisen because those sentenced before 2002 are required to be released two-thirds of the way through their sentence. They can only be kept in custody if the chief executive of the Department of Corrections makes a special appeal to the courts to have his detention extended.
The board found there had been no change since Wilson 's last hearing in September 2006. "He remains at very high risk of reoffending, and in those circumstances the board can directly reach the conclusion that he is not suitable for release on parole," the board said. Under section 107 of the 2002 Parole Act the Corrections chief executive could apply for Wilson to serve out his time if it was felt he would "commit a specified offence between the date of release and the applicable release date". The two-thirds rule has since been changed. In a letter asking for his parole hearing to be cancelled, Wilson wrote: "I am of no threat to anyone, and should the board accept I have served 13 years now, which is more time than those convicted of murder. Where is the justice in that?" In 1996, the court found that between 1971 and 1994 Wilson raped six women, raped a girl under 14, committed bestiality, assaulted two females, and indecently assaulted two children and four women.
