No parole for Leigh Matthews' killer: minister cites insufficient rehabilitation
RISK
More than two decades after the killing of Bond University student Leigh Matthews, her convicted killer, Donovan Stanley Moodley, has again been denied parole.
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DONOVAN Moodley, serving a life sentence for the 2004 murder of student Leigh Matthews, has been denied parole by Correctional Services Minister Dr Pieter Groenewald. Officials determined Moodley requires additional rehabilitation interventions before his case can be reconsidered in 24 months
In a media statement, the department said Moodley’s parole profile was considered in terms of Section 78 of the Correctional Services Act 111 of 1998.
“After careful consideration of all relevant reports and submissions, the National Council for Correctional Services (NCCS) recommended to the Minister of Correctional Services, Dr Pieter Groenewald, that parole placement not be granted at this stage,” departmental spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo said.
The council further recommended that Moodley undergo additional interventions before his profile is reconsidered.
Nxumalo said Groenewald concurred with the recommendation. “In accordance with this decision, parole placement has not been granted,” he said.
Moodley’s parole profile will be resubmitted after 24 months for reconsideration by the NCCS and, thereafter, by the minister.
During this period, Moodley is required to complete structured correctional programmes, psychotherapy sessions and assessments by independent, non-treating specialists. Nxumalo said the assessments would determine his risk profile and measure progress in rehabilitation.
Groenewald reiterated that parole consideration was not based solely on the completion of programmes or the minimum period of incarceration. He stated that statutory bodies assess all available information, including professional reports and risk assessments, before making their recommendations.
“The placement of offenders back into the community must satisfy all structures involved in the parole consideration process, confirming that rehabilitation has been achieved and that any risk posed to the community is manageable,” Groenewald said.
Where that threshold is not met, he said, further interventions are ordered, and offender files are returned to management areas with clear directives and timeframes before parole profiles may be resubmitted.
Moodley is serving a life sentence for the 2004 killing of Matthews. He pleaded guilty in 2005 to murder, kidnapping and extortion.