Courtney Morley-Clarke’s murderer, SLD, will be released from prison despite experts warning there’s a high chance he could commit violent sexual crimes

• SLD killed toddler Courtney Morley-Clarke in 2001
• He is at high-risk of committing violent, sexual crimes
• He will be released under a strict supervision order 
• READ MORE: Australia’s child-murderers 

A psychopath who was Australia’s youngest-ever murderer when he killed an innocent three-year-old girl will be freed from prison despite experts warning there’s a high chance he’ll violently offend again.

In one of the most shocking cases in Australian history, the now 36-year-old man, known only as SLD, walked down the road from his adoptive home to kill toddler Courtney Morley-Clarke when he was just 13-years-old.

Justice Stephen Campbell made the difficult ruling last Friday for SLD to be taken out of prison and put under an extended supervision order (ESO).

The court heard SLD had a very difficult childhood.

He was one of three children and was abused by his junkie mother before entering the foster system at just two-years-old.

Despite being a problem child, he was adopted by a family in the small NSW Central Coast town of Point Clare when he was four.

However, the newfound stability did little to change the ‘disturbed’ nature of the boy. 

SLD was just 13-years-old when he snatched toddler Courtney Morley-Clarke (above) and stabbed her through the heart

By the time he reached his teens, a psychiatrist was convinced he’d never become a functioning social adult.

Now we know they were right.

Three-year-old Courtney Morley-Clarke was sleeping in her home when SLD snatched her from her bed in January, 2001.

Courtney’s body was discovered the next morning hidden in a patch of tall grass, she’d been stabbed in the heart and abandoned wearing only her nappy.

SLD, aged 13 years and 10 months, gladly took credit for his horrific crime.

The tragedy broke hearts around Australia but the court was at a loss at what to do with a young boy who committed such a cruel murder.

For guidance on sentencing, Justice James Wood looked at the British case of toddler James Bulger who was tortured and killed by two 10-year-old boys.

SLD was sentenced to 20 years behind bars. 

His sentence expired in 2021 but he was deemed too dangerous to be released, The Weekend Australian reports.

His possible freedom was assessed again last week but this time the court-appointed expert favoured an ESO over more prison time, noting there was little to no chance of rehabilitation for SLD in jail.

Still, experts aren’t convinced freedom will rehabilitate SLD either.

Justice Stephen Campbell ruled last week SLD will be released from prison despite experts warning he’s becoming obsessed with the idea of losing his virginity and could become violent ‘where his will is denied’

SLD has been diagnosed with a severe personality disorder with antisocial and psychopathic features.

His lack of empathy is further driven by an attitude of self-importance and entitlement.

The court heard evidence SLD is obsessed with sexual fantasies and the idea of losing his virginity.

His intense desire coupled with his continued anti-social state that could see him ‘act without compunction’ have led to fears for the safety of women around him.

Worryingly, Justice Campbell found SLD was ‘liable to offend in a circumstance where his will is denied’ and ‘his offending may involve the use of a weapon’.

Under the ESO, SLD will be required to wear a GPS monitor and stay in line-of-sight surveillance at an ­offender support unit run by Corrective Services in Long Bay jail.

The strict supervision orders are handed to offenders who are at risk of committing serious violent, sexual or terrorist crimes if left alone in the community. 

Justice Campbell admitted keeping SLD under the order would be ‘extremely challenging’, which has already proven true.

In his first months living in the support unit, SLD was caught breaking his restrictions by accessing WhatsApp, YouTube and link-up app Tagged.

SLD will be supervised an ­offender support unit run by Corrective Services in Long Bay jail (above)

When confronted about his wrongdoing, he told the officer: ‘Listen miss, I will choose what conditions to follow and what ones aren’t important.’

Still, Justice Campbell urged people to remember ‘SLD’s general right to be at liberty following the expiration of the sentence lawfully passed upon him’.

SLD was back behind bars at the time of last week’s hearing but was told he will be allowed back into the unit if he agrees to behave. 

‘I am not aware whether SLD has agreed to this,’ Justice Campbell said.

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