Mother of girl who was raped, bashed and drowned slams killer

The mother of a four-year-old girl who was raped, bashed and drowned 29 years ago has begged for her killer to remain behind bars as authorities consider releasing him.

Neville Raymond Towner, 51, killed Lauren Hickson at Emu Plains, west of Sydney, on May 17, 1989.

Towner was 23 when he smashed the girl’s head in with a rock on the banks of the Nepean River after abducting her from a nearby caravan park where she lived with her parents. 

Towner was 23 when he smashed the girl's head in with a rock

Lauren Hickson (pictured) was four years old when she was murdered near her family home in western Sydney by Neville Towner, a man who had known her since she was a baby

On the anniversary of her daughter's death today, Mrs Hickson (pictured) told A Current Affair: 'He showed no mercy on her. He just tortured Lauren.'

On the anniversary of her daughter’s death today, Mrs Hickson (pictured) told A Current Affair: ‘He showed no mercy on her. He just tortured Lauren.’

Mrs Hickson is terrified that Towner (pictured) will be released within weeks after the The NSW Parole Authority indicated an intention to free him on parole

Mrs Hickson is terrified that Towner (pictured) will be released within weeks after the The NSW Parole Authority indicated an intention to free him on parole

On the anniversary of her death today, Jurina Hickson told A Current Affair: ‘He showed no mercy on her. He just tortured Lauren.’

Mrs Hickson is terrified that Towner will be released within weeks after the NSW Parole Authority indicated an intention to free him on parole.

She said: ‘I need to have this predator behind bars for the rest of his life. He is evil and shows no remorse.’ 

Former NSW detective Steve Ticehurst, who worked on the case, called Towner a ‘scumbag’ and said he should never be freed.

He told the show: ‘He should stay in until the day he dies. He should never be released.’ 

Mrs Hickson started a petition to keep Towner behind bars. It has more than 133,000 signatures.   

Former NSW detective Steve Ticehurst, who worked on the case, said called Towner a 'scumbag' and said he should never be freed. Pictured: Lauren's gravestone

Former NSW detective Steve Ticehurst, who worked on the case, said called Towner a ‘scumbag’ and said he should never be freed. Pictured: Lauren’s gravestone

Towner (pictured) was convicted of murder and sentenced to life behind bars, but could walk free within weeks

Towner (pictured) was convicted of murder and sentenced to life behind bars, but could walk free within weeks

Lauren first came into contact with Towner through the killer’s mother, who was entrusted as the girl’s regular babysitter. Towner had known Lauren since she was a baby. 

A huge police search discovered her body the day after she went missing lying by the river 500 metres west of the caravan park where she lived.

Forensic examinations showed Lauren had suffered bruising to her face and neck. Debris was found in her lungs and blood in her stomach.

Pathologists found a 2.5cm tear to Lauren’s vagina and a fractured skull. She had another cut on her forehead which had penetrated to the bone. 

Towner, who had hit Lauren over the head with a rock before attempting to rape her, was charged with murder and intent to sexually assault a child under the age of ten.

Towner tried to kill himself by slashing his wrists two days after he was charged. He again attempted to take his own life after an appearance at Penrith Local Court where an angry crowd wanted him dead. 

Lauren (pictured) first came into contact with Towner through his mother, who was entrusted as her regular babysitter but chose to let her son look after her the day she went missing

The four-year-old was abducted from the caravan park where she lived with her family, before being bashed over the head with a rock, raped and eventually drowned in the Nepean River

The four-year-old was abducted from the caravan park where she lived

The four-year-old was abducted from the caravan park where she lived with her family, before being bashed over the head with a rock, raped and eventually drowned in the Nepean River

He was sentenced to life in prison in 1992 but that was re-determined in 2002 to grant Towner a minimum non-parole period of 20 years. 

Less than three decades after the murder, Towner has freedom within his reach should the SPA approve his release.  

Mrs Hickson has also written of her anguish on a change.org petition calling on the SPA to block Towner’s parole.

‘I’ll never forgive him while I’ve still got breath in my body,’ Ms Hickson said. 

Towner was first refused parole in 2009 – his earliest possible release date – and again in 2010 and 2015. 

If granted parole, Towner would be subject to conditions set by the SPA for the rest of his life.

The possibility of her daughter’s killer walking free has outraged Jurina Hickson (pictured)

 



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