A man who admitted killing Christchurch woman Vanessa Anne Pickering a year ago had warned that he would kill and rape a woman, according to prison guards.
Malcolm George Chaston admitted the murder of 27-year-old Miss Pickering, whose body was found down a bank near Godley Head in February last year.
The 41-year-old freezing worker today pleaded guilty to a charge of assault with intent to commit sexual violation against a second woman, as his trial was due to begin in the High Court at Christchurch.
Outside the court Ms Pickering's mother, Rachel Kitsen, described Chaston as "pure evil" and said he deserved to be behind bars for the rest of his life.
With the guilty plea, the suppression was lifted on the fact that Chaston had pleaded guilty to murder on November 19. He also pleaded guilty to a further charge of sexual violation relating to a third person.
The suppression order on those guilty pleas had been put in place to protect Chaston's right to a fair trial on the remaining charge.
Serious concerns were raised about Chaston shortly before he was released from prison in mid-2008 after being imprisoned for sexual-related offending five years earlier, Stuff website reported tonight.
Before his release guards from a South Island prison guards sent Sensible Sentencing Trust founder Garth McVicar several emails warning of the risks Chaston would pose to the community.
The emails included one which stated: "He [Chaston] is bragging to everyone that he is going to rape and murder 'some shiela' so he can mak [sic] a name for himself and come back to prison as top dog."
At today's hearing Crown prosecutor Brent Stanaway said the crown would seek an open-ended jail sentence of preventive detention for Chaston, and asked that it be considered at the sentencing on April 18. He said the necessary psychiatric reports would consider any continuing risk posed by Chaston.
Two health assessors' reports will be prepared but Justice Robert Dobson indicated that the sentencing might have to be adjourned if the reports were not ready in time. He spoke about the families' concerns about delays but said the court was being asked to consider the most serious sentencing responsibility it had.
No facts about the case have been read in court. A summary of facts is still being discussed by the crown prosecutor and defence counsel Craig Ruane and it will be provided to the court when it is finalised.
Questioned by Justice Dobson, Mr Ruane said it was agreed that Chaston had previous convictions that qualified him for a preventive detention sentence to be considered.
Miss Pickering went missing from her Christchurch home one night last February. She was known to Chaston, having worked with him at a meat-packing plant that day.
Two days later, Chaston was captured by police using road spikes to stop his car at Cheviot, North Canterbury. He was driving a car that was being sought in connection with Miss Pickering's disappearance.
Miss Pickering's body was found down a hillside at Godley Head on February 11. According to the murder charge faced by Chaston, she had been stabbed.
Ms Kitsen told One News that it was a relief to the family that Chaston made today's guilty plea, and was another step forward in dealing with their grief.
"What he's done to this family is just callous," she said.
"I still can't believe that she's gone," said Kitsen.
NZPA