Man who raped, murdered Lauren Hickson, 4, to learn of parole bid on June 29
The man behind one of NSW’s most shocking murders will learn whether or not he is to be released from prison at the end of this month.
Neville Raymond Towner brutally killed four-year-old Lauren Hickson at the Nepean River in Emu Plains, in Sydney’s west almost 30 years ago.
Then 23, he was the son of the young girl’s babysitter when he took her from her parents’ caravan and attempted to rape her.
He told police that he had pushed her head underwater to stop her screaming, then bashed her over the head with a rock, dumping her body in the river.
Towner was originally sentenced to life in prison for murder and sexual assault but was in 2002 resentenced to a 20-year minimum term, which made him eligible for parole in 2009.
Now in his early 50s, a change.org petition to keep him behind bars has received more than 151,000 signatures.
NSW Parole Authority president Justice James Wood said the board would reserve its decision on whether or not to grant parole on June 29.
More to come.