Crime and Punishment
The Crime
Ronald Ryan, infamous for being the last man executed in Australia had a deep history of crimes, so his future crimes as an adult was influenced by his past criminal activities and habits as a child. He started committing crimes at a young age of 11, in 1936; he committed the crime of breaking and entering and robbery of a golden watch. In 1952 Ryan and accomplice committed arson, deliberately burnt his own house to fraud the insurance company. In early 1959 he was the leading figure in an organised criminal gang activity in that period involved the theft of property valued in court evidence at £38 483, (equivalent of $82 565). Ryan was becoming obsessed with criminal activity, with a continuous crime streak. This is evident through the following source.
“Ryan has during the past few months become obsessed with the idea that he is a ‘big time’ criminal with enough intelligence to outwit the forces of law and order.” - Senior Detective Ray Tobin
Ryan had indeed become obsessed with the idea that he was a 'big time' criminal. Ryan’s crime path led to a series of crimes against property including factory break-ins and safe blowing in Melbourne which resulted in him receiving an 8 year sentence of the 13th November 1964. In 10 months, his wife divorced him and remarried, this shocked Ryan. All that was in his mind was to break out, and win back the affection of his ex-wife, which led to his biggest crime he ever committed.
His major crime was the murder of the prison guard George Hodson from his escape from the Pentridge prison. This was a crime committed against a person. Ryan was adamant to escape from prison, his determination shone through his elaborate plan over the beginning months in prison. He methodically took steps, gathered information about the security weaknesses at the prison, he observed prison officer’s behaviours to determine who may be a weak link. Ryan also prepared for the difficult task of scaling prison wall by beginning an extension program of physical activity that was especially created to improve his fitness and flexibility. But, he also ensured that his behaviour in the goal was faultless.
He made up his elaborate plan to escape with outside contacts for arrangements of a safe house to go in Heidelberg, east of the prison through prison visits. Ryan organised a car to get him to the safe house. One of his critical decisions was for who would accompany him. There were approximately nine people involved with the crime, but only one prisoner, Peter John Walker aged 24 was chosen by Ryan for the actual escape.
The plan was put into action on Sunday, 19 December 1965, Ryan and Walker scaled the walls and escaped. Many guards chased after the escapees, one of which was George Hodson. Hodson was rostered off that day and was not initially working that day, but he happened to switch rosters with a colleague.
Hodson chased after the escaped prisoner Ronald Ryan and Ryan’s partner Peter Walker, Ryan aimed his gun in Hodson’s direction and hit Hodson. The murder is evident in the following sources, in the secondary source from the biography A Hanged Man by Mike Richards the events after the shot is clearly described. The primary source from The Herald shows the the aftermath of the shot and murder of Hodson
His major crime was the murder of the prison guard George Hodson from his escape from the Pentridge prison. This was a crime committed against a person. Ryan was adamant to escape from prison, his determination shone through his elaborate plan over the beginning months in prison. He methodically took steps, gathered information about the security weaknesses at the prison, he observed prison officer’s behaviours to determine who may be a weak link. Ryan also prepared for the difficult task of scaling prison wall by beginning an extension program of physical activity that was especially created to improve his fitness and flexibility. But, he also ensured that his behaviour in the goal was faultless.
He made up his elaborate plan to escape with outside contacts for arrangements of a safe house to go in Heidelberg, east of the prison through prison visits. Ryan organised a car to get him to the safe house. One of his critical decisions was for who would accompany him. There were approximately nine people involved with the crime, but only one prisoner, Peter John Walker aged 24 was chosen by Ryan for the actual escape.
The plan was put into action on Sunday, 19 December 1965, Ryan and Walker scaled the walls and escaped. Many guards chased after the escapees, one of which was George Hodson. Hodson was rostered off that day and was not initially working that day, but he happened to switch rosters with a colleague.
Hodson chased after the escaped prisoner Ronald Ryan and Ryan’s partner Peter Walker, Ryan aimed his gun in Hodson’s direction and hit Hodson. The murder is evident in the following sources, in the secondary source from the biography A Hanged Man by Mike Richards the events after the shot is clearly described. The primary source from The Herald shows the the aftermath of the shot and murder of Hodson
“While all this was going on, the loud whip-like crack f a single shot was heard, and Hodson fell heavily to the ground. He had been struck by a bullet which brought massive internal destruction and haemorrhage. Travelling from front to back and in a slightly downward trajectory, the bullet had entered his right shoulder, fractured – and possibly pierced his right lung, and severed the right innominate artery and vein. The bullet had exited through his back about an inch lower than the point of entry in his shoulder…He died within minutes.” (Richards, 2002, pg. 148)
This primary source shows "the no. 1 post, no. 2 post, and the external gate through which Ryan and Walker escaped. The picture also shows the intersection of Champ Street and Sydney Road, where Hodson was fatally shot." This source marks where the murder occured and the how the escapees escaped. - The Herald and Weekly Times
Ryan committed the crime of murder due to impulse; he was escaping from a prison to get to his newly divorced wife and children, he believed that he could convince his wife to win back her affections. It was Ryan’s driving force of the escape. While on the run, Hodson was interrupting his plan of action and in the spur of the moment Ryan aimed the gun in his hand in Hodson’s direction and pulled the trigger.