View source for Stewart Murray Wilson

{{Infobox person
|name        = Stewart Murray Wilson
|image       =
|caption     = 
|birth_date  = {{Birth date and age|1946|12|11|df=yes}}
|birth_place = 
|death_date  =
|death_place =
|other_names = Known as the 'Beast of Blenheim'
|known_for   = Sexual offending & dissension amongst residents about the terms of his parole in Whanganui
|occupation  =
|nationality = [[New Zealand]]
}}

'''Stewart Murray Wilson''' (born 11 December 1946) was born and raised in Timaru, New Zealand. During his '20s he lived in Sydney<ref>[http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10831065 Beast gets taste of freedom in prison gardens,] NZ Herald 2 September 2012 </ref> before moving to [[Blenheim, New Zealand|Blenheim]], [[New Zealand]]. He has a history of serious sexual offending including offences against children. He has served 18 years in prison. Currently (Sept.2012) he is released on parole with the most stringent release conditions of anyone ever released from prison in New Zealand. Releasing Wilson to live in a house on the grounds of the Wanganui prison has resulted in dissension amongst Whanganui residents.

== Biography ==

Wilson was the eldest child in his family, with two brothers and a sister. His youngest brother was killed in a car crash aged 14yr. The family home was in Essex St, Timaru and the children attended Marchwiel Primary School.<ref>[http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10831065 Beast gets taste of freedom in prison gardens,] NZ Herald 2 September 2012 </ref> His parents divorced during the 1970s. A family friend has reported that Wilson's father used to beat his wife and the children. Wilson missed a lot of school and would sometimes come to school with bruises.<ref>[http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10831065 Beast gets taste of freedom in prison gardens,] NZ Herald 2 September 2012 </ref> In 1996, Wilson's mother told a newspaper reporter her son suffered brain damage in his early teens which, she claimed, 'caused him to lose control occasionally'. Wilson was directed to live in a children's home. He also resided at Cherry Farm Psychiatric Hospital during his youth. 

Wilson's criminal record began in 1962<ref name=DOCvWilson/> when he appeared in court on burglary charges. Prior to the 1990s he also had convictions for assault on females, living off the earnings of a prostitute, and assault on a child.<ref name=DOCvWilson>{{cite web |url= http://www.courtsofnz.govt.nz/cases/chief-executive-of-the-department-of-corrections-v-stewart-murray-wilson/ |title=Chief Executive of the Department of Corrections v Stewart Murray Wilson |publisher=Courts of New Zealand |date=13 July 2012 |accessdate=18 August 2012}}</ref> 

In 1996 Wilson was convicted on sex offences involving 16 female victims over 23 years from 1972 to December 1994.<ref name=T104/95>R v Wilson HC Wellington T104/95, 15 March 1996.</ref> The guilty verdicts were for seven charges of [[rape]], one of attempted rape, six of [[indecent assault]], two of [[stupefying]], one of attempted stupefying, two of wilful ill-treatment of a child, three of assault on a female, and one of [[bestiality]];<ref name=DOCvWilson/> a total of 23 counts. Many of the charges were laid representatively.<ref name=DOCvWilson/> One of the offences was the rape of his 13 or 14 year-old step-daughter in the presence of her mother. One of the indecent assaults was of a girl under the age of 16. He was acquitted of two other charges. Wilson was sentenced to 21 years in prison, in March 1996.<ref name=NZH20080923>{{cite web |url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10533687 |title='Beast of Blenheim' denied parole |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=23 September 2008}}</ref> During sentencing the judge said that he would have given a sentence of preventive detention, except that this option was not available for him to use.<ref name=DOCvWilson/>

== Lack of rehabilitation in prison ==

For many years Wilson was held in [[Rolleston Prison]], a low-security prison<ref>[http://www.corrections.govt.nz/utility-navigation/find-a-facility-or-site/find_a_corrections_facility/rolleston_prison.html Rolleston Prison]. This prison provided , Corrections website</ref> a group-based treatment programme for convicted child sex offenders. The Department refused to put Wilson into this programme because he would not admit to a psychologist that he was guilty of the child sex offences for which he was convicted.

Nevertheless, the Department's entry criteria for this programme states that, "denial or other cognitive distortions related to offending behaviour" is an indication of suitability for the programme.<ref>"[http://www.corrections.govt.nz/policy-and-legislation/cpps-operations-manual/volume-4/part-1---management-of-risk/chapter-13---support-planning-meetings-for-child-sex-offenders/suitability-of-offenders-for-spms.html Suitability of offenders for SPM's]". Corrections website </ref>. This apparent lack of consistency in applying its own programme

Despite repeated appearances before the [[New Zealand Parole Board]] from September 2006, Wilson was not released prior to his statutory release date in 2012 because he denied responsibility for his offending, appeared to have no remorse, had not engaged in any treatment and was assessed at high risk of reoffending.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/crime/news/article.cfm?c_id=30&objectid=10461637 |title='Beast of Blenheim' before parole board |work=nzherald.co.nz |date=4 September 2007 |quote=Convicted rapist Stewart Murray Wilson is to appear before the Parole Board in his second attempt at parole. Wilson was denied parole at his first hearing last September. |accessdate=19 November 2011}}</ref> However, speaking via video link to the High Court at Wellington in June 2012, Wilson complained, not for the first time, that he had been denied any treatment since being sentenced in 1996. He said he had even been denied one-on-one counselling with a psychologist because he would not admit he was guilty<ref name=cries-to-judge/> and complained he has had only four hours one-on-one counselling in the 18 years he has been in prison.<ref name=asks-for-privacy>"[http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/6567430/Beast-of-Blenheim-asks-for-privacy Beast of Blenheim asks for privacy]". ''Stuff''. 13 March 2012.</ref> Wilson said he had also offered to do the STOP programme to treat sex offenders, but was not permitted to do so.<ref name=asks-for-privacy/> At a hearing in 2011 the Board acknowledged that the only counselling Mr Wilson had done was a few sessions with an ACC-funded counsellor.

== Parole Board hearings ==
Prior to his impending release in September 2012, Wilson appeared before the Parole Board at least five times. Each application for early release was turned down.<ref name=cries-to-judge>"[http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/7179486/Beast-of-Blenheim-cries-to-judge Beast of Blenheim cries to judge]". ''Stuff''. 27 June 2012.</ref> After 18 years in prison and now aged 65, he was released two days before his statutory release date of 1 September 2012.<ref name=DOCvWilson/>

In the process of establishing his release conditions, the parole board was told by clinical psychologist, Jane Freeman-Brown, that Wilson was still at high risk of reoffending. Wilson declined to be interviewed for the assessment, which relied instead on information from his prison file.<ref>[http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/7226278/Beast-of-Blenheim-still-a-risk Beast of Blenheim 'still a risk,] 5 July 2012 </ref> Nevertheless, the Parole Board was impressed with her report and imposed 17 release conditions, said to be the toughest conditions ever imposed on anyone released from prison in New Zealand.<ref name=go_somewhere>"[http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10827850 The beast must go somewhere]". ''Herald on Sunday''. 19 August 2012.</ref> The first of those conditions requires Wilson to live in a state house which was to be shifted onto the grounds of Wanganui Prison especially for him. Another condition was for him to wear a GPS tracking device - the first prisoner ever to be fitted with one.

== Public reaction to his release ==
Media coverage about Wilson has been extensive and in almost every story, it says he's been 'dubbed the Beast of Blenheim' - although his 16 victims comes nowhere near the more than 100 victims of New Zealand's longest serving prisoner, Alfred Thomas Vincent.<ref>[http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/5121580/Canterbury-prisoner-may-die-in-jail Canterbury prisoner may die in jail,] The Press 9 June 2011</ref> At the age of 74, Vincent has been in prison for 45 years.<ref>[http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10831788 Recidivist abuser denied parole despite 45 years in prison,] NZ Herald, 5 September 2012</ref> How Wilson first came to be labelled the 'Beast' is not known. Columnist Rosemary McLeod notes that the media generally cannot get away with such insulting terminology but says nobody seems to be protesting at Wilson being 'dubbed in this way'.<ref>[http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/opinion/columnists/rosemary-mcleod/7487373/Beast-among-acceptable-insults 'Beast' among acceptable insults,] The Press 16 August 2012 </ref> Jim Hopkins, a columnist for the New Zealand Herald noted for his humorous writing style said: "We're never told who did the dubbery, but it is exceedingly kind of the media to advise us that it's happened".  According to Hopkins: "Dubbing tells we're allowed to loathe the person concerned with a clear conscience and that we needn't restrain our abhorrence in any way."<ref> [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10827481 Oh what fun it is to mock the Beast of Belarus,] NZ Herald 17 August 2012</ref> 

The news of Wilson's release created a public outcry, led by former Wanganui mayor and controversial broadcaster, [[Michael Laws]] who was furious that Wanganui was being used as a 'dumping ground' for sex offenders.<ref name=go_somewhere/> The Wanganui District Council was so concerned it filed proceedings with the High Court to try and prevent him being sent there.<ref> [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10828506 First legal steps taken against 'Beast' parole,] NZ Herald 21 August 2012 </ref> After the High Court ruled against the City Council, Councillor Ray Stevens started a campaign to have Wilson trespassed from Wanganui shops.<ref> [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10829910 Wanganui council to continue 'Beast' fight,] NZ Herald 28 August 2012</ref>

Very few commentators tried to allay the public's fears. One who did is Victoria University professor, [http://www.victoria.ac.nz/psyc/about/staff/tony-ward Tony Ward], a clinical psychologist with expertise in sexual offenders. He said it was irresponsible for local body politicians to ramp up public fear of Murray Wilson. He described the fervour at Wanganui's public meetings as a type of "moral panic" and said the overly punitive stance from Wanganui people undermined the justice system. He also said that given Mr Wilson's age, he was unlikely to reoffend as "The reoffending rate for very high risk people over 60 is about six per cent." Professor Ward said the best way to rehabilitate sex offenders was to keep them in the midst of other people - where they could be watched - and give them support.<ref>[http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10828607 Council's fear of Beast 'irresponsible',] NZ Herald 22 August 2012 </ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}

{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME              = Wilson, Stewart Murray
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =New Zealand criminal
| DATE OF BIRTH     = 11 December 1947
| PLACE OF BIRTH    =
| DATE OF DEATH     =
| PLACE OF DEATH    =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilson, Stewart Murray}}
[[Category:New Zealand criminals]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Sex crimes]]
[[Category:Forgers]]
[[Category:New Zealand prisoners and detainees]]
[[Category:1947 births]]
[[Category:Zoosexuality]]
[[Category:Blenheim, New Zealand]]
[[Category:New Zealand rapists]]
[[Category:Prisoners and detainees of New Zealand]]