Roll call of New Zealand's most dangerous offenders

Graeme Burton. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Preventive detention is a final solution for the worst of the worst offenders. It is handed down to murderers, rapists and paedophiles who pose a high risk of reoffending.

Corrections figures show 10.3 per cent of more than 6000 sentenced prisoners are on preventive detention. They can be released on parole only if they show they no longer pose a threat.

Graeme Burton

When Burton was released on parole in 2006 for the murder of Paul Anderson, the Parole Board said he was not an undue risk. Six months later the "narcissistic sociopath" murdered father-of-two Karl Kuchenbecker and wounded four others before being shot.

Dean Cameron

Christchurch rapist Cameron had been out of prison for nine months when he found his next victim, Marie Davis. He heard the 15-year-old Davis telling his niece that she would be home alone. He raped and murdered her, before dumping her body in the Waimakariri River.

Keith McEwen

While on parole for burglary in 2006, McEwen was convicted of attacking and robbing a honeymooning Dutch couple, and raping the woman, in the Bay of Islands.

George Cant

Cant was in jail for sex offences against children at a Christian youth group when he met his next victim, a Christian prison visitor. She invited him to live with her when he was released and he sexually violated her.

Michael Carroll

Carroll forced a woman to drive to Mt Victoria in Wellington where he violated her, before taking her to Otaki Forks where he raped her again. It was his third rape. His 2003 release caused an outcry and he was recalled to jail where he remains.

Taffy Hotene

After eight years in jail for attacking three women, Hotene raped and murdered Auckland journalist Kylie Jones. He was found dead in his cell in Wanganui Prison in November.