A child killer and rapist who was jailed for life could be allowed to spend time in the community without supervision if a recommendation that that his security classification be dropped to the lowest risk level proceeds.
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Rodney Thomas Clarke, who was sentenced to life in 1988 after he smothered his nine-year-old neighbour to death while repeatedly raping her, would be eligible to leave prison on day or weekend leave, for education or for work.
Then 21, Clarke murdered Deborah Keegan in her family's home in western Sydney after breaking into her room through a window before first checking that her mother was asleep.
He raped and suffocated her with a pillow before he pulled the covers over her and left through the window. Her mother discovered her dead body the following morning.
Clarke was sentenced at a time when life did not mean life and prisoners had the prospect of eventual release on licence. When the legislation changed, he was given the right to apply to have a parole date set.
In 2005, Justice Peter Hidden granted Clarke's application for a parole date, setting it at 28 years. Clarke became eligible to apply to parole board for release in July 2015 but has not done so.
A Corrective Services NSW spokeswoman confirmed that the independent authority The Serious Offenders Review Council had formed an initial intention to recommend that Clarke's security classification be reduced to C3.
C3 is the lowest security classification and allows prisoners to go into the community without supervision - although they often have electronic monitoring - or day or weekend leave, education leave or work release.
Clarke currently has a C2 classification which means he can do community projects under supervision.
The council has invited written submissions from victims regarding Clarke being considered for external leave programs including whether there should be geographical restrictions.
The Corrective Services spokeswoman said the council would consider any submissions from victims before making a recommendation to the Commissioner of Corrective Services Peter Severin on Clarke's security classification.
"The Commissioner is not required to accept the recommendations of the council and will make an independent assessment," the spokeswoman said.
During a prison program in 2001, Clarke admitted to having a long history of sexual fantasies, some with a violent theme, not only about adult women but also about young girls.
He admitted, the court heard, to have had fantasies about Deborah and thoughts of abducting her before he went to her bedroom with the intention of sexually assaulting her.
