A serial rapist who confessed to the murder of his aunt is set to walk free from jail a year early despite warnings he will re-offend.
Cold and calculating Jason Van Der Baan has spent 25 years in prison for four violent rapes in Sydney, including one when he put a replica gun to a baby’s head.
Van Der Baan, 52, also confessed to the murder of his aunt Irene Wilson in 1995 – but was not convicted for it after a judge tossed out key evidence.
Now Ms Wilson’s daughter, Melanie and the detective inspector who locked him up say they fear he remains a menace and a danger to the public.
Cold and calculating, Jason Van Der Baan spent more than 25 years in prison for four violent rapes, including one during which he put a gun to a baby’s head. He is set to be released in two weeks
‘Do not let him out; he’s dangerous. There is absolutely no proof that he has rehabilitated,’ Melanie told A Current Affair.
Retired Detective Inspector Ian McNab added: ‘I think he’s one of the most evil people I’ve investigated.’
Mr McNab said Van Der Baan planned his violent crimes meticulously and refused to admit any guilt until there was indisputable evidence in front of him.
He nearly walked free once before – in 2009, after initially serving eight years for two of the rapes.
But detectives found DNA evidence to connect him to two other rapes that occurred 15 years previously and he was also charged with a robbery to keep him behind bars.
One of his rape victims told ACA that Van Der Baan got her pregnant during the rape – but that she was ‘forever grateful’ to have miscarried his child.
The woman – who can’t be named for legal reasons – admitted she was ‘constantly reliving’ the terrifying rape.
Mr McNab, Melanie, and her uncle – Irene’s brother, Tony Van Der Baan – fear Jason Van Der Baan will commit more violent crimes if released.
Tony Van Der Baan admitted he was especially shocked by Jason’s confession because his sister used to care for Jason when he was a baby.
Melanie branded him ‘a predator’ and said women and men should be equally scared if he’s released.
Melanie Wilson (pictured), whose mother Irene Van Der Baan confessed to killing, labelled him ‘a predator’ and said women and men should be equally scared if he’s released
Ms Wilson’s body was found by her children, but despite his confession the judge threw out the murder charge against Van Der Baan, ruling evidence against him was inadmissible.
It included a taped confession recorded by an undercover officer in which Van Der Baan claimed to have jumped on Ms Wilson’s back to strangle her with a shoelace.
Van Der Baan is now set to walk free as early as March 3 – a year ahead of schedule – as part of a plan to monitor him, the Daily Telegraph reported.
The NSW State Parole Authority (SPA) has decided to release Van Der Baan from jail so it can impose strict conditions on him.
If he was left in jail to see out the remainder of his sentence in full, the SPA warned, he would then be released without any supervision or conditions.
The SPA announced its intention to release Van Der Baan between March 3 and 11. No objections were raised by the State of NSW, the Serious Offenders Review Council or Community Corrections.
Van Der Baan told an undercover police officer that he climbed on the back of his aunt Irene Wilson (pictured) before strangling her with a shoelace
In prison Van Ver Baan completed a sex offender program and underwent therapy. He will now be forced to see a psychologist and wear an electronic tracking device on his ankle.
He must also abide by tougher restrictions than most parolees.
Those include that he cannot use drugs, or a weapon (including a gun), he can’t stalk or contact victims, he can’t be near children or use social media to contact them.
He is also listed on the Child Protection Register.
Despite that, Mr McNab insists Van Der Baan is at risk of re-offending.
He added: ‘I believe he’s a danger to the community and I’m concerned that if he does get out, he may reoffend.’
