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Jailed serial rapist asks court for visits

Greta StonehouseAAP
A rapist dying of cancer in jail has asked that his sister can visit when COVID-19 rules ease.
Camera IconA rapist dying of cancer in jail has asked that his sister can visit when COVID-19 rules ease. Credit: AAP

A serial rapist dying of cancer in jail has not been guaranteed visits from his sister when COVID-19 restrictions ease after pleading to a judge that "time is not on my side".

Mustafa Kayirici would spend at least another four decades in jail but has been diagnosed with terminal cancer with a life expectancy of three to six months, the NSW Supreme Court was told on Wednesday.

He is serving multiple sentences following numerous charges for rape including several counts of aggravated sexual assault on a child under 16-years-old in 2016.

Visits from his young sister were initially deemed too risky by the Corrective Services Commissioner, who noted his past offending and his "volatile behaviour" while in custody, Justice Geoffrey Bellew said.

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But after further review of his medical records the commissioner indicated these visits could go ahead in future "on compassionate grounds," but due to the rapid spread of COVID-19 must be conducted via audio-visual link in the meantime.

Kayirici representing himself via AVL told the judge his cancer had spread to his lymph nodes, lungs and brain, and that he had been in Long Bay Prison's hospital for 16 months.

"Time is not on my side Your Honour."

"I have received my Pfizer shot and my family are doing the same so they can visit me.

"My main aim is not to leave my sister out when all my other family members come to see me.

"It's not fair for her to feel left out."

"I ask my request be granted on compassionate grounds."

Since June 24 personal visits were suspended for all inmates across NSW prisons due to the surge in COVID-19 cases.

Claire Palmer, representing the Corrective Services Commissioner, said this meant AVL visits were the best available outcome for every prisoner.

But there was nothing stopping Kayirici from applying again once the situation changed, she said.

Justice Bellew said he did not have the power to determine any future decision the commissioner would make, but noted Kayirici's deteriorating health and acute medical needs.

"I would recommend in the strongest possible term that any application made by (Kayirici) for in-person visits with any member of his family, including with his sister, be dealt with as expeditiously as possible," he said.

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