A High Court judge will hear a bid on Monday to stop sex offender Stewart Murray Wilson from being released to a house in Whanganui Prison grounds - as well as Wilson's bid to relax his strict release conditions.
Canterbury University's Andrew Frost believes it is only a 'matter of time' before Wilson is back behind bars. Watch the video to see his interview with Firstline this morning.
Wilson, 65, labelled "the Beast of Blenheim", is due to be released on Wednesday after completing a sentence handed down in 1996 for 22 sex offences against women, children and animals over 25 years in Blenheim.
His 17 parole conditions are reportedly the strictest in New Zealand history and include an extensive supervision order, wearing a GPS tracking device, not contacting anyone under 16 without adult supervision and not associating with females at his address.
But they are not enough for Whanganui District Council, which is challenging the move before Justice Ronald Young in the High Court on Monday.
"We wouldn't be taking the legal action if we weren't pretty confident we weren't going to succeed," Whanganui Mayor Annette Main said.
Whanganui was chosen for Wilson's release as it was one of the few places in the country where Wilson had no registered victims.
"We believe this plan gives us the best chance of ensuring the community's safety as well as allowing this offender's gradual re-integration into the community," said Brendan Anstiss of the Department of Corrections.
Wilson's main argument over his release conditions is that he has served his time and should be left alone.
The conditions were imposed after a clinical psychologist said Wilson, who continues to deny his crimes, is at high risk of reoffending.
Wilson has been moved to Whanganui Prison in preparation for his release.
NZN