seldomTap
06-27-2004, 08:36 PM
Serial killer seeks sex change
By Geoff Wilkinson
June 28, 2004
SERIAL killer Paul Denyer has been assessed in jail by public health officials deciding whether he should receive taxpayer-funded sex change treatment.
Prison photographs and letters obtained by the Herald Sun provide chilling evidence of Denyer's continuing bid to be treated as a woman.
He has received official assistance - despite a Victorian State Government vow to stop him.
Denyer, who stabbed and strangled three young women, now calls himself Paula and has begun moves to change his name by deed poll.
The triple murderer describes himself on the back of one prison photograph as "Miss Tickle Morticia".
A transsexual prisoner just released from the maximum security Barwon jail for men said yesterday Denyer had used prison sewing machines to alter some of his clothing in an attempt to look more feminine.
She said Denyer had continued his sex swap campaign despite State Government assurances last year that his legal action to win the right to wear make-up in jail would fail.
The Human Services Department's director of mental health, Dr Ruth Vine, visited Denyer at Barwon last month in her capacity as principal medical officer for prisons.
Denyer later wrote on May 19 that Dr Vine's report on him suggested a referral to the Monash Medical Centre's gender dysphoria unit "should be held back pending further psychological attention".
Prison sources said yesterday Denyer was receiving counselling on gender identity issues from prison psychologists.
Jayne, a transsexual prisoner released from Barwon a week ago, said Denyer had "changed his appearance, but can't change the evil in his eyes".
She dismissed Denyer's behaviour as "sick, twisted attention-seeking".
Jayne said other prisoners and prison staff regarded Denyer's claims to be a woman after killing three women as a macabre joke.
"First, he was into bodybuilding, then he decided he wanted to be a devout Christian, then he decided he was a Muslim and now - in his 30s - he says he wants to be a woman," Jayne said.
"The way he's carrying on is an insult to all women and transsexuals and the families of his victims."
Jayne said Denyer told her in a letter early this month he had been visited that day by the chief psychologist at Barwon.
"The wheels have jumped into gear and are moving," Denyer said.
Corrections Commissioner Kelvin Anderson yesterday confirmed the assessment of Denyer, but said the results were confidential.
"There would need to be clear expert evidence for an application of this type to go ahead," Mr Anderson said. "I have not had any expert professional advice that supports any such application from the prisoner. No plans exist to seek any further referral."
Corrections Minister Andre Haermeyer was adamant last night Denyer's sex change bid would fail.
"It will not happen," Mr Haermeyer said. "This is highly offensive to the families of his victims and it just won't happen."
Mr Haermeyer said last October after the Herald Sun revealed Denyer's legal action to wear make-up that it was "out of the question ... totally inappropriate".
But Denyer's appeal against the Equal Opportunity Commission's rejection of his claim is still before the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal and is due for a mediation hearing on July 21.
Jayne received 17 letters from Denyer while they were in different units at Barwon over the past year.
For two months they were housed in Hoya, a protection unit holding about 50 prisoners, including notorious killers Raymond Edmunds and Lindsay Beckett.
Jayne said the photographs of Denyer were taken by a prison recreation officer.
Denyer poses in one, hand outstretched, and wrote on the back: "All this can be yours if the price is right. A bit more practice and I should have a career in it."
Denyer, 32, stabbed and strangled three young women during a seven-week killing frenzy in bayside suburbs in 1993.
His victims were Elizabeth Stevens, 18, Debbie Fream, who was 22 and the mother of a 12-day-old baby, and Natalie Russell, 17.
Denyer told homicide squad detectives, who interviewed him after his arrest, that since he was 14 he had "always wanted to kill".
When asked why his victims were women, he said: "Just hate 'em".
Denyer was described in court as a narcissistic sadist who was a danger to all women.
He was sentenced to life in jail without parole, but appealed successfully to the Full Court, which set a non-parole period of 30 years.
Denyer has served 11 years and will be eligible for parole in 2023 when he will be 51.
Natalie Russell's parents were "absolutely shocked" when told by the Herald Sun yesterday of his latest stunt.
Carmel Russell said she and her husband Brian wondered whether Denyer's antics would ever end, but thought it important the public was reminded of what he'd done and his subsequent behaviour.
:ky: :bukkake:
By Geoff Wilkinson
June 28, 2004
SERIAL killer Paul Denyer has been assessed in jail by public health officials deciding whether he should receive taxpayer-funded sex change treatment.
Prison photographs and letters obtained by the Herald Sun provide chilling evidence of Denyer's continuing bid to be treated as a woman.
He has received official assistance - despite a Victorian State Government vow to stop him.
Denyer, who stabbed and strangled three young women, now calls himself Paula and has begun moves to change his name by deed poll.
The triple murderer describes himself on the back of one prison photograph as "Miss Tickle Morticia".
A transsexual prisoner just released from the maximum security Barwon jail for men said yesterday Denyer had used prison sewing machines to alter some of his clothing in an attempt to look more feminine.
She said Denyer had continued his sex swap campaign despite State Government assurances last year that his legal action to win the right to wear make-up in jail would fail.
The Human Services Department's director of mental health, Dr Ruth Vine, visited Denyer at Barwon last month in her capacity as principal medical officer for prisons.
Denyer later wrote on May 19 that Dr Vine's report on him suggested a referral to the Monash Medical Centre's gender dysphoria unit "should be held back pending further psychological attention".
Prison sources said yesterday Denyer was receiving counselling on gender identity issues from prison psychologists.
Jayne, a transsexual prisoner released from Barwon a week ago, said Denyer had "changed his appearance, but can't change the evil in his eyes".
She dismissed Denyer's behaviour as "sick, twisted attention-seeking".
Jayne said other prisoners and prison staff regarded Denyer's claims to be a woman after killing three women as a macabre joke.
"First, he was into bodybuilding, then he decided he wanted to be a devout Christian, then he decided he was a Muslim and now - in his 30s - he says he wants to be a woman," Jayne said.
"The way he's carrying on is an insult to all women and transsexuals and the families of his victims."
Jayne said Denyer told her in a letter early this month he had been visited that day by the chief psychologist at Barwon.
"The wheels have jumped into gear and are moving," Denyer said.
Corrections Commissioner Kelvin Anderson yesterday confirmed the assessment of Denyer, but said the results were confidential.
"There would need to be clear expert evidence for an application of this type to go ahead," Mr Anderson said. "I have not had any expert professional advice that supports any such application from the prisoner. No plans exist to seek any further referral."
Corrections Minister Andre Haermeyer was adamant last night Denyer's sex change bid would fail.
"It will not happen," Mr Haermeyer said. "This is highly offensive to the families of his victims and it just won't happen."
Mr Haermeyer said last October after the Herald Sun revealed Denyer's legal action to wear make-up that it was "out of the question ... totally inappropriate".
But Denyer's appeal against the Equal Opportunity Commission's rejection of his claim is still before the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal and is due for a mediation hearing on July 21.
Jayne received 17 letters from Denyer while they were in different units at Barwon over the past year.
For two months they were housed in Hoya, a protection unit holding about 50 prisoners, including notorious killers Raymond Edmunds and Lindsay Beckett.
Jayne said the photographs of Denyer were taken by a prison recreation officer.
Denyer poses in one, hand outstretched, and wrote on the back: "All this can be yours if the price is right. A bit more practice and I should have a career in it."
Denyer, 32, stabbed and strangled three young women during a seven-week killing frenzy in bayside suburbs in 1993.
His victims were Elizabeth Stevens, 18, Debbie Fream, who was 22 and the mother of a 12-day-old baby, and Natalie Russell, 17.
Denyer told homicide squad detectives, who interviewed him after his arrest, that since he was 14 he had "always wanted to kill".
When asked why his victims were women, he said: "Just hate 'em".
Denyer was described in court as a narcissistic sadist who was a danger to all women.
He was sentenced to life in jail without parole, but appealed successfully to the Full Court, which set a non-parole period of 30 years.
Denyer has served 11 years and will be eligible for parole in 2023 when he will be 51.
Natalie Russell's parents were "absolutely shocked" when told by the Herald Sun yesterday of his latest stunt.
Carmel Russell said she and her husband Brian wondered whether Denyer's antics would ever end, but thought it important the public was reminded of what he'd done and his subsequent behaviour.
:ky: :bukkake: