Satanist attacker release imminent

A Christchurch grandmother nearly killed by two lesbian satanists in Queensland says she feels no resentment at the imminent release of one of her attackers.

Dulcie Brook said she had been kept well-informed about the release from jail of Aleaha Schipper, one of two teenagers who attacked her and left her for dead in 1998.

Mrs Brook said she did not feel any resentment about Schipper's predicted September 24 release, but was annoyed about being returned to the media spotlight.

"I can't go on spending my energy on feeling bitter and twisted about them," she said.

"I've never felt that she would come back and hurt me again or hurt anybody else."

On June 30, 1998, Mrs Brook was walking on the Tanglewood track in the Noosa National Park on Queensland's Sunshine Coast when she was set upon by Schipper, then 18, and Sarah Fotini Bird, then 17.

The two teenagers repeatedly beat and stabbed Mrs Brook, before leaving her for dead. Mrs Brook survived only because a fellow tramper heard her cries for help.

The two young women - who were lovers, and who had hatched the plan to attack Mrs Brook as part of a Satanic plot - were sentenced to 11 and 20 years' respectively for attempted murder.

Mrs Brook's throat was cut almost from ear to ear in the attack, and she was also stabbed several times and beaten with nunchakus. She suffers numerous health problems which stem from the assault. "The effects are still there, but not as bad as they were seven years ago," Mrs Brook said.

In 2000 Mrs Brook's attackers had their sentences reduced to nine and 16 years on appeal. Schipper is eligible for parole at the end of September, and has lodged an application to be released from jail. She has already been moved to a prerelease facility, and Mrs Brook has been notified that her attacker is about to be released.

"I was told right at the start that she would only serve 80 per cent of her time if she behaved herself and I know through information through the corrections people ... that she has been behaving," Mrs Brook said.

- NZPA