Murderer and rapist James Beauregard-Smith dies at Yatala health center, parole board confirms

A convicted triple murderer and rapist once dubbed “one of South Australia’s worst criminals” has died in custody.

James Beauregard-Smith was sentenced to prison for the strangulation murder of Sandra Holland and the drowning of her sons Craig (9) and Scott (11) in July 1977, and the rape of a 21-year-old woman after being released on parole in 1994.

On Thursday, the parole board confirmed Beauregard-Smith’s death.

Two young boys in a black and white photo — Craig and Scott Holland drowned in 1977 at Beauregard-Smith.

The Department of Correctional Services reported that an 81-year-old inmate treated at the Yatala Health Center died as a result of a long-term illness.

Court documents show the diagnosed psychopath had an affair with Ms Holland in the months before her murder, but she and her sons were murdered when she told Beauregard-Smith she was going back to her husband.

The bodies of Mrs Holland and Scott were found under leaves and branches in Woodside, and Craig’s body was found under the floorboards of the family home.

Beauregard-Smith was arrested on July 16, 1977 and later sentenced to 22 years without the possibility of parole.

He behaved well in prison and was released on house arrest to serve the remainder of his sentence in May 1993, after which he was granted parole for a period of 10 years beginning on April 1, 1994.

At the end of the trial, the judge described the crime as “cold-blooded” and “horrible.”

Wedding photo of a woman murdered by her partner — Sandra Holland was murdered by Beauregard-Smith after she told him she wanted to leave him.

Second offense one week after parole was granted

In November 1994 he was convicted of one count of rape and two counts of indecent assault for offenses committed at Cuddlee Creek on April 8, 1994 – just a week after being granted parole.

The sentencing judge for the incident described his crimes as “deliberate” and “cruel” and said Beauregard-Smith was “capable of acts of violence.”

He then applied for parole, but was repeatedly denied parole.

In August 2009, then SA Premier Mike Rann vowed the murderer and rapist would never be granted parole.

“If the Parole Board were to recommend Beauregard’s release, I would not be a party to signing his release papers,” he said at the time.

“He is one of the worst criminals in the state.”

In July 2000, the Supreme Court granted Beauregard-Smith a new 15-year non-parole period, backdated to November 25, 1994, which would have made him eligible for release in 2009.

The front of Adelaide Prison with a shubbery — James Beauregard-Smith died of illnesses at Yatala Labor Prison. (ABC News: Che Chorley )

During hearings to decide on a new parole ban, forensic psychiatrist Kenneth O’Brien told the court that Beauregard-Smith was a “psychopath” who would remain a danger to the community.

Another forensic psychiatrist also advised against his release.

Dr. O’Brien said that at Beauregard-Smith’s age and “his record, you have to say there is some risk.”

“In 20 years he only had one chance to play out and he blew it,” he said.

Dr O’Brien said Beauregard-Smith had difficulty relating to women and had a serious personality disorder.

“All I know is that after many years in prison, he reoffended again shortly after loosening his shackles, which doesn’t give me much confidence,” he said.

“At his age and with his achievements, you would say there is some risk.”

The court also heard that Beauregard-Smith was prone to sudden anger and was unable to control it.

Judge David Wicks also said a “disturbing feature” of the case was that Beauregard-smith “committed a very serious offense within a week or so of securing parole”.