A man convicted in the early 1980s of the rape and murder of a fellow patient at a psychiatric hospital has told court he would take medication that destroyed his sexual desire if it meant he could leave prison.
Originally sentenced to 15 years for the rape and murder in 1983 of Julie Ann Muirhead (above), 29, Mark Richard Lawrence, now 55, received a further 7 years after attacking another prisoner in 1999.
He has now spent more than 30 years in prison after being ordered to remain in custody indefinitely as part of the Dangerous Prisoner Act.
According to the Courier-Mail, he may now be eligible for release provided he take medication that removes his sex drive. Previously on the medication, Lawrence stopped after discovering it caused him to develop breasts. He has this week told Brisbane Supreme Court, however, that he would be willing to go back on it, despite this side-effect, if it meant being released.
‘If it’s got to make us, everyone, safe … I’m happy to take these medications and abide by the law,’ he told the court.
The case will likely be reviewed this year, until then Lawrence remains behind bars.
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