Serial killer reveals post-prison struggles in fight for more freedoms
In a bid for more freedom, a serial killer has spoken of her challenges since being released from prison, ranging from making friends to using a mobile phone and the internet for the first time.
Regina Kaye Arthurell, who was jailed under the name Reginald Kenneth Arthurell, began transitioning shortly after being released from prison in November last year.
Once dubbed the “cowboy killer”, Arthurell served almost 24 years behind bars for bludgeoning fiancee Venet Mulhall to death at Coonabarabran in 1995 while on parole.
She had earlier killed her stepfather in the 1970s and a sailor in the 1980s.
An interim order on Arthurell’s supervision expires in two weeks and at least two expert doctors have said they believe there is a medium risk of her reoffending.
Paul Quinn, the brother of murder victim Venet Mulhall, told 9News the community deserved to be protected.
The New South Wales Government is fighting to keep Arthurell under strict supervision for the next three years but the 75-year-old says she wants to live freely.
For the first time, an affidavit written by Arthurell has revealed what she says are the difficulties facing a triple murderer adjusting to life outside of prison.
She submitted the document to the Supreme Court as part of her argument for being allowed to live without controls.
Simple things like using mobile phones and the internet had been stressful, Arthurell said.
“Before I went to gaol, people would stop in the street and talk to each other. Now they talk on the phone. I can’t make sense of this,” she said.
“I never used the internet before going to goal.”
Arthurell says she is blind in one eye and her hands tremble and shake, which her doctor calls “essential tremors”.
“When I got out of gaol, I bought my first mobile phone. I went through 4 phones in 4 months because I keep dropping them,” she said.
“I have lots of difficulties using my mobile phone because there are so many buttons and options. I often push the wrong buttons and I don’t know what a lot of the options mean.
“… I hardly ever send SMS because it is too difficult to work out how to do it and because my fingers are too big.”
Arthurell said she had learned to use the internet but had problems remembering passwords.
“I use internet on my phone to ask ‘Google’ questions such as ‘where to buy boots from’. I also use Google Maps and YouTube. I listen to country music on YouTube and watch America’s Got Talent. I used to use Google but Google seems to have disappeared again. I have an email account too.
“I once tried to buy something on eBay but it asked me for a password and I cancelled it because I couldn’t remember my password. I often can’t remember my passwords and there are so many of them.”
Arthurell said she moved into a nursing home in the Sydney suburb of Yagoona but was forced to leave the facility in May after neighbours discovered more about her.
She said she had since applied to rent more than 30 homes.
“I don’t have any people in my life other than my support workers,” she said.
“It’s hard to make new friends. I think mostly because of my criminal history and because of the media articles about me.”
The serial killer expressed a desire to reconnect with a former prison friend nicknamed “Kiwi”, but police have banned the pair from having contact.
She also claims to have been double-crossed by a member of a support group, alleging the woman “pretended to be my friend and I let her take pictures of my wigs. Then one day I started receiving threatening SMS’ from her and realised she’d set me up.”
Under a subhead titled “things I like to do and people in my life”, Arthurell says in her affidavit that she spends her free time reading books, doing artwork and shopping.
“I really like nice clothes, wigs, nail polish and I spent time buying these things and getting dressed up,” she said.
“I enjoy these things and take pride in my appearance.”
She said she had completed an arts degree in custody and an archaeological thesis but also wanted “to do fashion leather work and make leather items”.
“I really like doing this and I think it’s important to have interests. I would like to resume doing this and have started going to some saddlery shops to look at items.
“I recently bought a really nice pair of leather boots.”
Victim’s brother warns of ‘danger to society’
Mr Quinn, Ms Mulhall’s brother, said the killer would always need to be monitored and would remain a “danger to society” until on the “wrong side of the grass”.
He said he was worried about the idea of Arthurell being allowed to travel anywhere in Australia.
Mr Quinn said when the killer left his sister for dead, Arthurell was dressed as a female, who witnesses at the time mistook for the victim.
“This person doesn’t have a desire to be in a relationship, he’s a psychopath and he is just looking for somebody to take advantage of. He’s done that all his life”, Mr Quinn said.
There have been 16 conditions proposed for Arthurell’s supervision, including electronic monitoring, restrictions on where she can go and who she associates with, and limits on phone and internet use.
A decision is expected in the coming weeks.
