Qld govt bid to stop killer's release

Queensland's attorney-general has urgently intervened to stop the release of a sadistic killer and rapist.

Mark Richard Lawrence, 52, has been locked up for more than 30 years for a series of horrific attacks on women, and for other crimes.

At the age of 22, the diagnosed sexual sadist killed a fellow psychiatric patient by cutting her throat with a broken bottle.

He later escaped from jail but was recaptured, and several years later raped another prisoner.

Lawrence has been behind bars indefinitely for the last six years because he was considered too dangerous to be released.

However, a Supreme Court judge on Friday decided Lawrence should be released but kept under strict supervision in special accommodation.

Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie has succeeded in having Lawrence's release delayed until 4pm, when lawyers for Mr Bleijie will ask the Court of Appeal for a longer freeze on the prisoner's release.

The attorney-general is expected to ask the court to keep the prisoner locked up until he appeals Friday's decision.

Mr Bleijie is not the first minister to block Lawrence's release.

In 2011, a Supreme Court release order for Lawrence was successfully appealed by then attorney-general Paul Lucas.

Mr Bleijie also tried to stop the release of notorious sex offender Robert Fardon last year, but was unsuccessful.

Fardon is living in a residential facility at Wacol in south-west Brisbane.