I think it is likely with 'a degree of probability at the upper end of the scale but not necessary [sic] exceeding 50%' that Mr Hill could reoffend in a similar manner."
19 Notwithstanding that Dr Samuels refers to whether Mr Hill "could" re-offend, the import of his opinion, and of the other evidence, satisfies the court to a high degree of probability that Mr Hill is likely to re-offend. Dr Roberts opined that Mr Hill "represents a high risk of offending both violently and sexually." Even Dr Westmore, qualified by Mr Hill, does not recommend the absence of a supervision order. The major issues related to the duration of the Extended Supervision Order and some of the conditions, particularly the requirement to wear a satellite navigation amulet and the reporting conditions associated therewith. Even if the term "likely" meant "more probable than not", the Court would be satisfied of the requirement.
20 In relation to the matters that are truly in issue, the most relevant evidence, in the exercise of the discretion of the Court, is the evidence of Mr Rowan, the evidence of Mr Hill and the evidence of Dr Westmore. I shall deal briefly with that evidence. Before doing so, I note that Dr Roberts, uncontrovertedly, opined that
"Mr Hill's acts of sexual violence are driven not only by a desire for sexual gratification, but by a desire to dominate, control and instil fear as a means of demonstrating masculinity. Whilst antilibidinal medication is expected to reduce libido and potentially mitigate aspects of his [Mr Hill's] offending behaviour related to his sex drive, it would not be expected that other aspects, which drive his violent offending, would be significantly altered." (Exhibits C, Report 4 May 2009, page 40.)
21 As noted during the course of the proceedings, Mr Hill was an impressive person, who gave the impression that he genuinely desired to cease (or continue the cessation of) his abuse of alcohol and was remorseful for his past abuse of women. However, as also noted, the Court was observing Mr Hill, when he was sober. Moreover, his description of his past offending glossed over a number of the aspects of the offences, to the extent of a misrepresentation of them. Mr Hill was an honest witness. Indeed, he gave answers honestly and not necessarily answers that were in his interests. Mr Hill was particularly opposed to the electronic monitoring equipment that pinpointed his whereabouts at any particular time. He described it as "like an invisible prison bar" by which he would "feel trapped", if he were required to wear it.
22 His attitude to alcohol was somewhat ambivalent. He acknowledged that alcohol presented a significant problem for him, but, somewhat candidly, remarked that part of the programs in which he has been enrolled seemed to encourage the view that offenders could blame the alcohol. More importantly, he informed Dr Roberts, at a session organised to assess Mr Hill for the purposes of these proceedings, that he [Mr Hill] "could safely use both alcohol and cannabis" (Transcript, page 101). The unanimous view of the expert witnesses, who have given evidence on this subject, is that Mr Hill could never safely use alcohol, and any use of alcohol by him would render him an immediate risk of relevant re-offending.
23 Mr Rowan was an extremely impressive witness, who, from the perspective of the Court, reassured the Court that those persons to whom responsibility is devolved by the Act held the expertise necessary to exercise the functions, and understood the need to balance the protection of society, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, the need for sufficient flexibility to allow rehabilitation to be completed. Obviously, the best way to protect society is to ensure the rehabilitation of the offender. However, the difficulty is always that rehabilitation may not be likely, or may not be certain, and the purpose of the legislature is that society must be protected from the risk identified by the Act.
24 Mr Rowan testified that the Department continued to monitor the progress of persons under its supervision, and, to the extent that such persons displayed the kind of discipline that satisfied the Department of their continuing rehabilitation, the Department relaxed the strictures that it originally imposed, and that it was entitled to impose. The prime example, given by Mr Rowan, was that some of the less risky offenders (in which category Mr Hill would fall) were relieved of the necessity to wear GPS monitoring equipment, sometimes as early as six months into the term of the Extended Supervision Order. Given Mr Hill's continuing rehabilitation, he anticipated that, if Mr Hill were to display the necessary discipline, Mr Hill may be able to be excused from wearing such monitoring equipment after a period of that kind. Nevertheless, Mr Rowan maintained the necessity to have the Department able to continue the monitoring, should Mr Hill not display the appropriate discipline.
25 Apart from the obvious advantage that the equipment allowed the Department to place an offender within a particular area, the electronic monitoring equipment allows the Department a greater capacity to obtain more random breath and urine tests for drugs and alcohol. The six-monthly review, which is undertaken by the Department, involves consultation with other service providers including the offender's maintenance psychologist. In order for the GPS style electronic monitoring equipment to function appropriately, it is necessary for the offender to notify the Department, in advance, of the offender's movements.
26 Dr Westmore, who was qualified by Mr Hill, agreed that an Extended Supervision Order was appropriate and should be imposed. However he disagreed with the proposed duration of that order, and suggested that the duration of such an order be between 12 and 24 months. The basis of that suggestion was the need for a review within that period, and an Extended Supervision Order of that duration would impose such a review. It is clear from the evidence of Mr Rowan that a review of Mr Hill would occur, it seems, every six months.
27 In dealing with Mr Hill's alcohol abuse, Dr Westmore referred to the desirability of setting a timeframe that would enable Mr Hill to continue to modify his behaviour and maintain the conditions. In the process of his evidence, Dr Westmore said:
"People don't go from problematic drinking psychologically to non-drinking psychologically overnight, it's a process. And he's already describing that process; they move towards sobriety. You can influence behavioural changes in them by saying you mustn't drink and that happens. But the most important changes, the psychological changes, he's already describing that process." (Transcript, page 126.)
28 Dr Westmore was asked, by counsel appearing for Mr Hill, about whether Mr Hill would be able to comply, practically, with the conditions of reporting and electronic monitoring, to which Dr Westmore replied, in part:
"All I can say about this is that restrictions of this type will obviously impact significantly on his life-style particularly in terms of preventing or reducing any spontaneity in his life-style. I think it could be quite difficult to organise your life 48 hours in advance, not for all things but obviously for some things particularly activities of spontaneity. So there would be those restrictions. But that's really I think all I can say about that. It would impact on his life-style to a degree."
In cross-examination, Dr Westmore conceded that the foregoing opinion as to difficulty was ameliorated by the availability of an officer to approve any proposed changes to Mr Hill's regime on a seven day a week 24-hour a day basis. He also agreed that Mr Hill would benefit from and needed structure in his life. And, if Mr Hill were able to obtain approval for changing his schedule immediately, or fairly soon thereafter, such a condition would be appropriate. Dr Westmore's qualification, in those circumstances, to that agreement was that such restrictions should be in place for only 12 to 18 months. (See Transcript, pages 129-130.)
29 Dr Westmore was also cross-examined about the proposed condition relating to the need for any potential sexual partner of Mr Hill to be informed of his prior history. In the course of that cross-examination, Dr Westmore expressed the following view:
"First of all I'd say I think it's essential that Mr Hill - any sexual relationship of an intense type that he was describing that the partners are aware of his history. I believe they need to be informed and the Department should have the capacity to do that. Mr Hill would be wise and should be counselled about the need to do that himself as well."
He explained that by "as well" he meant earlier than the Department, and explained: