Christmas Day rapist who held a Japanese tourist captive, tied her up and sexually abused her fights for freedom - and says he 'screwed up badly'

  • Kym Spoehr, 68, launches bid to be released back into community unsupervised
  • Served 14 years for kidnapping and rape of Japanese tourist Christmas 2001 
  • Released in 2017 but now back behind bars after he assaulted another prisoner
  •  Spoehr says he paid huge price for the 2001 rape and now wants his life back.
A rapist who abducted and held a young Japanese tourist captive for hours during a horrific ordeal is fighting for freedom, telling a court he just wants his life back. 
It's been almost two decades since Kym Spoehr, now 68, hit the woman on the head with a piece of wood and tied her to a tree before repeatedly raping her in Queensland's Noosa National Park on Christmas Day 2001.
He fled the scene but was arrested in Coffs Harbour on the NSW mid-north coast three weeks later and extradited back to Queensland.
Spoehr has appealed to Queensland Supreme Court for his unsupervised release.
Appearing via videolink from Wolston Prison, Spoehr told the court he was suffering from untreated psychosis at the time of the rape, The Courier Mail reported. 
'I screwed up badly and I paid a big price for it,' he said.
Kym Spoehr served 14 years behind bars for the kidnapping, assault and rape of a Japanese woman held against her will in Noosa National Park (pictured) on the Sunshine Coast in 2001
Kym Spoehr served 14 years behind bars for the kidnapping, assault and rape of a Japanese woman held against her will in Noosa National Park (pictured) on the Sunshine Coast in 2001
'I've paid a high price for having a mental illness that got away from me on that day. I don't have a criminal mind.'
Spoehr pleaded guilty to seven charges of rape, deprivation of liberty, torture and assault occasioning bodily harm and served 14 years sentence over the horrifying attack.
He was released from prison in late 2017 on a strict supervision order.
He was back behind bars within 14 months after he used a lump of wood to assault another offender in a secure prison housing unit where he was living. 
Spoehr argued he's not a danger to the community and just wants his life back.  
Two psychiatrists admitted the offence Spoehr is at most risk of committing is 'a rape on an adult female'. 
Dr Andrew Aboud told the court Spoehr living on his own would be the 'ideal scenario' if he's released on a supervision order.

Spoehr was released from jail in 2017  but is currently in the high security Wolston Prison (pictured) after he assaulted another offender in a secure prison housing unit a year later
Spoehr was released from jail in 2017  but is currently in the high security Wolston Prison (pictured) after he assaulted another offender in a secure prison housing unit a year later
He said Spoehr's horrific 2001 attack on the tourist occurred after he became angry at a man over money.
He then took that anger out on the woman as she was the first person who encountered him during his moment of rage. 
Lawyers for the Attorney General are arguing for a five-year supervision order with strict conditions to minimise Spoehr's risk of reoffending.
Justice Peter Applegarth told Spoehr he had not told the court about his living arrangements and support contacts if he is to be released from custody without a supervision order.
Kym Spoehr has appealed to be released back into the community unsupervised (stock image)
Kym Spoehr has appealed to be released back into the community unsupervised (stock image)
The judge also expressed concern Spoehr carried a 'rape kit' at the time of brutal attack.
Spoehr denied it was a rape kit and that he had rope and duct tape to 'knock goannas'.
'I'm not the person a lot of people are trying to make me out,' he told the court.
Justice Applegarth will make his decision at a later date.  

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