News Service from House Harris

WA: Porter vows to cut contact between lesbian murderers

Western Australia Attorney-General CHRISTIAN PORTER says two young lesbian murderers are defying the wishes of a Supreme Court judge in Perth by spending recreational time in prison together.

21-year-old JESSICA STASINOWSKY and 19-year-old VALERIE PARASHUMTI were sentenced in March to life in prison for the wilful murder of teenager STACEY MITCHELL .. who was bludgeoned to death and strangled with a chain before the two women kissed over her body.

Judge PETER BLAXELL recommended the two be kept apart in Bandyup women's prison not to encourage what he called their perverse outlook on life.

But Mr PORTER says it appears the two are making contact during recreational time at the jail .. of which inmates have 90 minutes a day on weekdays and six hours on a Sunday.

Mr PORTER says he finds this highly unsatisfactory and he's looking into what can be done about the situation.

But Labor's corrective services spokesman PAUL PAPALIA says separating the pair could backfire .. because each unit in the jail is graded according toprivileges and reward for good behaviour.