The family of a young woman murdered by her ex-boyfriend has been rocked at the discovery her killer was let out of prison on day release.
Melbourne University student Adriana Donato, 20, was at a friend’s home in August 2012, when her former boyfriend, James Stoneham, then 21, came to look for her.
She got in his car to speak to him and he drove her to a park where he killed her with a hunting knife.
During sentencing at the Supreme Court in November 2013, Justice Michael Croucher heard that Stoneham, who pleaded guilty, planned the murder for weeks.
Justice Croucher issued a prison sentence of 19 years, with a non-parole period of 14-and-a-half years.
But in early April, a member of Adriana’s family spotted Stoneham at their local shopping strip in Moonee Ponds, Melbourne.
‘I didn’t believe he could be out in the community. We dismissed (the relative). We thought she was being ridiculous,’ Grace Donato told The Age.
Ms Donato was told by police that Stoneham had been transferred about a month earlier to the Judy Lazarus Transition Centre in Melbourne’s CBD.
Adriana Donato had been at a friend’s birthday celebration before her ex-boyfriend killed her
James Stoneham pleaded guilty to the murder of Adriana Donato and was sentenced to 19 years in prison
Some prisoners are moved to the centre towards the end of their sentence as part of a supervised pathway back into society. Stoneham had not been granted parole.
Ms Donato had listed herself on the Victorian Victims Register in February to be notified of developments in the timing of any parole application or release.
Corrections Victoria had checked the list twice but it was not consulted just before Stoneham’s transfer to the centre.
‘I am devastated, traumatised and angry that this can even happen,’ Ms Donato said.
‘I think Victorians would be shocked. They need to know this is happening to me and others as well.’
Ms Donato was contacted by Corrections Victoria in April who apologise for the mistake and reassured her of changes made to ensure the issue was not repeated.
‘We sincerely apologise and deeply regret the distress caused to Ms Donato,’ a Department of Justice and Community spokesperson.
‘As soon as the breakdown in process was identified, this person in custody was moved to another prison.’
Adriana’s mother Grace Donato (pictured) has taken aim at a Victorian government policy which saw thousands of prisoners’ sentences reduced due to the Covid pandemic
Corrections Victoria has put additional processes in place to prevent the mistake happening in the future and state government minister Enver Erdogan also made an apology.
‘I extend my deepest sympathies to Ms Donato for what has occurred,’ he said.
‘This is an appalling error and it is completely unacceptable.’
Ms Donato also took aim at a Victorian government policy from 2021 which saw thousands of prisoners’ sentences reduced due to the Covid pandemic.
Inmates were granted an emergency management day (EMD) – a day deducted from their sentence – to compensate for disruptions in prisons like 24 hour-lockdowns.
While four days is the maximum amount of EMDs permitted for prisoners under the Corrections Act 1986, prisoners were given one for each day in lockdown during the pandemic, which included 14-days of mandatory quarantine for new inmates.
‘I want that 14 months reversed for (Stoneham) and all other violent offenders who have received this,’ Ms Donato said.
She was not alone with a Parliament of Victoria petition to restrict emergency management days for violent and high-risk prisoners receiving 3,700 signatures as of Thursday evening.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Corrections Victoria for comment on the petition.
