Mass murderer who shot his wife, their children and her parents released on parole

Convicted killer Dennis Rostron who shot and killed his wife, two young sons and his parent-in-laws, at Molgawo outstation in Arnhem Land in 1988 has been granted parole by Justice Stephen Southwood in a Darwin Supreme Court.

The then 24-year-old was living with his wife Cecily, and their two sons aged one and two, at Cecily's parents' outstation near Maningrida.

Tension between Rostron and his father-in-law, as well as constant arguments with Cecily instilled him with anger.

On one occasion during an argument Cecily told him that the children were not in fact his.

Then on September 25, 1988, he got a shotgun and a rifle and shot all five family members as they sat together on a mattress.

Rostron also shot at a number of other people at the outstation as they fled but didn't hit anyone else.

He eventually turned himself into police at Maningrida.

Rostron was sentenced to life in prison with no prospect of parole but after laws changed in 2003, he was handed a non-parole period of 28 years.

At the time, Justice Judith Kelly said she would have given Rostron a longer non-parole period if he wasn't an Aboriginal man due to their shorter life expectancy.

Now at 55, Rostron has spent almost 30 years behind bars, making him one of the Territory's longest serving prisoners.

Justice Southwood said the community had been thoroughly consulted over an extensive period of time and supported his release on parole.

The parole board was satisfied Rostron now obtained a low security rating, had a good support group in the community and can be appropriately supervised by his probation and parole officer, she added.

The parole board won't release where he will now live. But it's expected he will live off selling artwork, a passion developed in prison.