A man who raped, tortured and murdered a young girl in 1989 may walk free from jail as soon as Tuesday, despite having served just 28 years of a life sentence.
Lauren Hickson was only four years old when she fell victim to Neville Towner, during a vile attack at Emu Plains, a suburb in the west of Sydney.
The 23-year-old abducted the young girl from the caravan park where she lived with her family, before bashing her over the head with a rock, attempting to rape her and eventually drowning her in the Nepean River.
But despite Towner being convicted of murder and sentenced to life behind bars, he could be given the green light to return into the community as soon as a parole hearing on Tuesday – a move that has outraged Lauren Hickson’s devastated mother.
Lauren Hickson (pictured) was only four years old when she was raped, tortured and murdered by Neville Towner, during a vile attack at Emu Plains, a suburb in the west of Sydney, in 1989
Towner (pictured) was convicted of murder and sentenced to life behind bars, but could walk free as soon as Tuesday when he will face the NSW State Parole Authority
Lauren 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.
A huge police search discovered her lifeless body two days later lying by the river 500 metres west of the caravan park.
Towner was eventually charged murder and intent to sexually assault a child under the age of ten.
With the public outraged at the crime, he attempted to take his own life twice while in custody.
He was eventually sentenced to life in prison, but that was overturned in 2002 to allow him the minimum non-parole period.
And now, less than three decades on from the shocking murder, Towner has freedom within his reach should the State Parole Authority (SPA) approve his release.
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 possibility of her daughter’s killer walking free has Jurina Hickson outraged, and backing 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.
‘The murder was so horrific. He sexually assaulted and tortured her.
‘I just can’t understand why a prisoner of his calibre is going to get a get-out-of-jail-free card.’
Steve Ticehurst, who was the lead investigator on the case echoed the statements of Ms Hickson in opposing Towner’s parole, saying he did ‘not deserve to be released’.
The possibility of her daughter’s killer walking free has Jurina Hickson (pictured) outraged and backing a petition pushing for the