⛧⸸ᴹᵁᴿᴰᴱᴿᴰᴼᴸᴸ⸸⛧
DUUUURR 🤤
One of the notorious Skaf brothers (Mohammed Skaf) behind Sydney's shocking series of gang rapes in 2000 could be granted parole, after COVID-19 "extinguished" his only other viable pathway to reintegration.
Mohammed Skaf has been behind bars for more than 20 years for his role in the gang rapes of at least six schoolgirls in public parks and toilets in August 2000.
The 38-year-old has been eligible for parole since 2018 and has previously been knocked back three times.
The State Parole Authority (SPA) heard there had been two "viable pathways" for his successful reintegration into the community; external leave or release on parole.
But SPA Chairman, Judge David Frearson, said COVID-19 restrictions now mean parole with strict conditions proposed by Community Corrections is the only option.
"It does present as the only viable pathway for community safety and reintegration," Judge Frearson said.
The judge noted the State of NSW, which had previously opposed parole, appeared to be "sitting on the fence" in its most recent submissions.
Barrister Joanna Davidson, for the State, said parole was no longer opposed because the only other option had been "cut off by the indefinite prolongation of the COVID-19 restrictions".
Skaf's conditions will include electronic monitoring and he will need to finish a prison course known as RUSH (Real Understanding of Self-Help) before his freedom is officially confirmed.
The SPA reserved its decision.
The 38-year-old unexpectedly spoke up about the course during the hearing.
"We've been doing it three times a week now, so we've got one more week and it will be finished," Skaf told the judge.
Judge Frearson warned him to be "very, very careful" to stay out of any trouble.
"You need to cooperate and if you are given parole at some point, you'll need to abide strictly by the conditions of parole, otherwise you'll have to come back," he said.
Mohammed Skaf was sentenced to a maximum 22 years, 11 months for the rapes after courts heard he played a pivotal role, acting to lure the young victims towards gangs of men.
The sentencing judge described the assaults as "degrading", "violent" and "disgusting", condemning Skaf for being "a vicious cowardly bully, arrogant and a liar, as well as being a rapist".
The judge said it was "hard to believe that young men brought up in modern Australia could behave so much like wild animals".
The trials also led to significant reform around sexual assault proceedings.
After one of the victims indicated she could not give evidence again at a retrial, laws were changed to allow for previous evidence from victims to be used in retrials.
Mohammed Skaf has been behind bars for more than 20 years for his role in the gang rapes of at least six schoolgirls in public parks and toilets in August 2000.
The 38-year-old has been eligible for parole since 2018 and has previously been knocked back three times.
The State Parole Authority (SPA) heard there had been two "viable pathways" for his successful reintegration into the community; external leave or release on parole.
But SPA Chairman, Judge David Frearson, said COVID-19 restrictions now mean parole with strict conditions proposed by Community Corrections is the only option.
"It does present as the only viable pathway for community safety and reintegration," Judge Frearson said.
The judge noted the State of NSW, which had previously opposed parole, appeared to be "sitting on the fence" in its most recent submissions.
Barrister Joanna Davidson, for the State, said parole was no longer opposed because the only other option had been "cut off by the indefinite prolongation of the COVID-19 restrictions".
Skaf's conditions will include electronic monitoring and he will need to finish a prison course known as RUSH (Real Understanding of Self-Help) before his freedom is officially confirmed.
The SPA reserved its decision.
The 38-year-old unexpectedly spoke up about the course during the hearing.
"We've been doing it three times a week now, so we've got one more week and it will be finished," Skaf told the judge.
Judge Frearson warned him to be "very, very careful" to stay out of any trouble.
"You need to cooperate and if you are given parole at some point, you'll need to abide strictly by the conditions of parole, otherwise you'll have to come back," he said.
Mohammed Skaf was sentenced to a maximum 22 years, 11 months for the rapes after courts heard he played a pivotal role, acting to lure the young victims towards gangs of men.
The sentencing judge described the assaults as "degrading", "violent" and "disgusting", condemning Skaf for being "a vicious cowardly bully, arrogant and a liar, as well as being a rapist".
The judge said it was "hard to believe that young men brought up in modern Australia could behave so much like wild animals".
The trials also led to significant reform around sexual assault proceedings.
After one of the victims indicated she could not give evidence again at a retrial, laws were changed to allow for previous evidence from victims to be used in retrials.
