QLD:Serial offender developing empathy: doctor

AAP General News (Australia)
04-11-2011
QLD:Serial offender developing empathy: doctor

By Petrina Berry

BRISBANE, April 11 AAP - Serial sex offender Robert John Fardon could be released into
the community provided he's strictly supervised and doesn't use drugs or alcohol, a doctor
has told a Brisbane court.

The psychiatrist said Fardon is developing empathy with age and is becoming less anti-social.

Fardon, 63, has spent more than 30 years in jail for sex offences against children and women.

He was last released from prison in 2007 but in 2008 he was returned to jail after
allegedly breaching a supervision order under the Dangerous Prisoners (Sexual Offenders)
Act.

Fardon is still in custody under a detention order despite being acquitted of raping
an intellectually impaired Gold Coast woman during his release.

He has reapplied to be released but Queensland's attorney-general is seeking a court
order to keep him in jail.

The matter is being heard in the Supreme Court in Brisbane.

Psychiatrist Scott Harden, who has performed risk assessments on Fardon, on Monday
told the court Fardon was developing more empathy for people as he aged.

In a report read to the court, he said there was "a gradual lessening of Fardon's anti-social
personality characteristics".

The report also said Fardon may have developed "an ability to reflect and some empathy
for other people with increasing age".

Dr Harden told the court Fardon would pose a "low or moderate risk" if he were to be
released under a "stringent" supervision order and if he abstained from alcohol and drugs.

He also said it was reassuring that Fardon had tested negative to all 76 random urine
and breath tests taken between July 2007 and April 2008.

The matter has been adjourned to a date to be fixed.

AAP peb/tnf/pc/apm

KEYWORD: FARDON

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