Robert Terry Smith,43,was granted parole on Tuesday after the State Parole Authority formed an initial intention to release him in February.
Smith pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 16 years for manslaughter by gross criminal negligence and being an accessory after the fact to murder in 2011.
Robert Smith and Kristi Abrahams were jailed for a minimum of 12 and 16 years respectively.Channel Nine
He unsuccessfully appealed against his sentence all the way to the High Court.
His then-partner,the mother of six-year-old Kiesha Weippeart,Kristi Abrahams was convicted of her murder and sentenced to at least 16 years.
Smith knew the girl had been injured and rendered unconscious but did not seek medical attention for her.
He disposed of her body,destroyed evidence and gave false accounts to police,media,and the Department of Community Services in a “determined and sustained course of conduct” to destroy evidence,Justice Megan Latham noted when sentencing Smith.
The objective gravity of his actions after Kiesha’s death was greater than the manslaughter offence,she said.
Smith will be subject to strict conditions during his four-year parole period,including that he not enter the Penrith or Blacktown local government areas.
“There is nothing to indicate the offender will not comply with those conditions,” new State Parole Authority chair Geoffrey Bellew said.
Kristi Abrahams confesses to killing her daughter Kiesha during a conversation with an undercover police officer in April 2011.
Sighs of disappointment came from public gallery attendees wearing shirts carrying the slogan “We Say No Parole For Child Killers Never To Be Released” when the decision was handed down.
Smith watched on from Junee via video link,responding only “yes” when asked by Mr Bellew if he understood he will be granted parole from April 21.
Outside court,a former friend of Abrahams turned victim’s advocate,Alison Anderson,told reporters Smith was a “putrid grub” who should not have been granted parole. “I just feel like we’ve failed … but we’re going to keep on fighting,” Ms Anderson said.
“My heart goes out to every person that has been supporting Kiesha and every other little angel around. It’s just been one big kick in the gut today.”
Reports to the parole authority stated Smith had developed an insight into his offending and expressed remorse.
Retired detective chief inspector Russell Oxford told reporters curiosity carried him to Parramatta’s Sydney West Trial Courts on Tuesday.
“I came today to see if there was any remorse on the face of Robert Smith,” Mr Oxford said.
“The other reason I wanted to be here today was … (Kiesha) had no one speaking for her in all her life.
“She lived six years of abuse,I just don’t want her to just be remembered as a statistic.”
Smith was as he remembered him during the investigation,emotionless and expressionless,but hearing he had expressed remorse gave some comfort,Mr Oxford said.
“I’m really hopeful that he’s genuine and he’ll never forget what they did,” he said.
He said the parole authority researched the judgment well and the decision was “very,very fair”.
“At least this way we’ve got a little bit of an opportunity to monitor him to see if he’s genuine,and genuine in his remorse,and he can start again,” Mr Oxford said.
AAP