Tim Watson-Munro

Tim Watson-Munro (born 1952/1953) is an Australian forensic psychologist. His expertise has been used in some of Australia's biggest criminal trials.[2] He has analysed some of Australia's most prolific and violent criminals including underworld figure Alphonse Gangitano and mass murderer Julian Knight.[3] His work involves determining whether those charged with acts of extreme violence are legally insane. Watson-Munro is regularly called upon to provide expert evidence in court and to the media.

Tim Watson-Munro
Born1952/1953 (age 69–70)[1]
NationalityAustralian
EducationM.A (Psychology)
Alma materUniversity of Sydney
Years active1978–present
Children5

Early life

Watson-Munro has described being raised in a "privileged academic environment". His father was a professor of physics, and his mother a scientist. He was initially educated at Sydney Grammar School, where he left to work in a lumberyard due to the harsh disciplinary environment. Watson-Munro later returned to a different school to complete his secondary education. He then went on to study psychology at the University of Sydney.[4]

Career

Watson-Munro is described as one of Australia's leading and distinguished criminal psychologists.[5] In 1978, he commenced his career at Paramatta Jail.[6] He then went into private practice. He has assessed over 30,000 people in his career, including 200 murderers.[7] Watson-Munro's primary role when assessing criminals is to determine whether they are legally insane.[8]

Julian Knight

Watson-Munro was the psychologist responsible for assessing and working with Julian Knight after he carried out the 1987 Hoddle Street massacre killing seven people and leaving 19 injured.[5] Watson-Munro states the marksmanship during the massacre suggested clear thinking on the part of Knight.[5]

Alphonse Gangitano

Watson-Munro was assigned to treat now-deceased Melbourne underworld figure Alphonse Gangitano shortly after his arrest for murder. Gangitano was then released after the prosecution dropped all charges relating to the arrest after a key witness left the country, and Watson-Munro expected Gangitano not to pursue treatment. However shortly after his release, Gangitano contacted him for an appointment and treatment continued. Watson-Munro has written that Gangitano had a degree of "intellectual prowess", and that his time with Gangitano demonstrated to him that even career criminals can have "other lives that are seemingly quite normal".[9]

Mr Cruel

"Mr Cruel" is a pseudonym for the never identified suspect of several child rapes and the murder of Karmein Chan in Melbourne during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Watson-Munro was contracted by Victoria Police during their investigation to profile the potential offender.[10]

Views

Watson-Munro has advocated for educating to inform victims of crime about their rights to compensation and treatment.[11]

Youth

Watson-Munro in 1996 warned the child-welfare system in Victoria was in "chaos and on the brink of collapse", voicing concerns about the truancy and crime being committed by children in the care of the state and called for a royal commission into the government department responsible. Watson-Munro was involved in assessing a 14 year old boy who murdered a taxi driver while wandering around at night.[12]

He has criticised a proposal to ban songs with suicidal themes as "censorship gone mad". He considers such proposals as well intentioned, but that real issues of youth suicide needed addressing such as socio economic circumstances.[13]

Ivan Milat

Watson-Munro has described serial killer Ivan Milat as a "malicious, calculating, psychopathic serial killer".[6] Watson-Munro was approached to assess Milat but declined, stating "I had no interest in this bloke" and opined Milat had no hope of rehabilitation based on his crime and behaviour while in custody.[6]

True crime

Watson-Munro has stated that individuals who consume true crime media and are socially isolated, mentally ill, or young can become desensitised to violence and gore. He stated "I think there is a nexus between that and people viewing this material and becoming desensitised to it or wanting to see what it is like".[14]

Controversy

In 1999, Watson-Munro pleaded guilty to using and possessing cocaine. He was fined $1000 and placed on a 12 month good behaviour bond.[15] He was later that year was reprimanded by the Psychologists Registration Board of Victoria on two counts of unprofessional misconduct after being found to have formed a personal relationship with a female client.[2] In June 2000, the Board refused his re-registration as a psychologist. In 2002, the Board again found it was not in the public interest to allow Watson-Munro to practice.[16] Watson-Munro has described the years preventing him from running a clinical practice as "the greatest challenge [he] ever faced".[17] In 2003, Watson-Munro regained registration as a psychologist on the basis he undertook supervision for a period of two years.[18]

Personal life

Watson-Munro is married to his second wife, Carla. His first wife Susan died of cancer. He is the father of five children.[4]

Works
  • Watson-Munro, Tim (2017). Dancing with Demons. Australia: Pan Macmillan Australia. ISBN 9781760552664.
  • Watson-Munro, Tim (2018). Shrink in the Clink. Australia: Pan Macmillan Australia. ISBN 9781760782009.

References
  1. Russell, Stephen A. (28 July 2018). "Tim Watson-Munro, the jailhouse shrink who beat his own demons". The New Daily. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  2. Butcher, Steve (6 February 1999). "Top psychologist is reprimanded". The Age. p. 4. Retrieved 25 April 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. Sweet, Melissa (29 April 1996). "Mass Murderers 'usually bad rather than mad'". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 2. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  4. Watson-Munro, Tim (2017). Dancing with demons. Sydney, N.S.W. ISBN 978-1-76055-266-4. OCLC 990057587.
  5. Jubelin, Gary (3 September 2022). "How criminal psychologist came face to face with Hoddle St monster Julian Knight". The Herald Sun. Archived from the original on 25 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  6. McNally, Gillian (27 July 2018). "Mad or bad? Inside the minds of Australia's worst criminals". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  7. Kelly, Heath (28 November 2020). "Dr Tim Watson-Munro reveals his dealings with Australia's underbelly". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  8. Ross, Monique; Riminton, Hugh (11 August 2018). "'They are psychopaths': Inside the minds of Australia's worst killers". ABC News. Archived from the original on 1 May 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  9. Watson-Munro, Tim (29 July 2017). "Inside the mind of Alphonse Gangitano". The Herald Sun. Retrieved 25 April 2023 – via EBSCOHost.
  10. Miranda, Charles (14 June 2019). "The mystery of Mr Cruel". The Herald Sun. Retrieved 25 April 2023 – via EBSCOHost.
  11. Talbot, Danielle (10 August 1992). "Elderly 'unlikely crime victims'". The Age. p. 15. Retrieved 25 April 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. Milburn, Caroline; Farouque, Farah (14 August 1996). "Chaos warning on welfare". The Age. p. 7. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  13. Masterson, Andrew (7 March 1997). "Contemplating suicide". The Age. p. 46. Retrieved 25 April 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. Morris, Linda (9 August 2019). "Call for caution on crime binge watching". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 25 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  15. Rule, Andrew; Silvester, John (19 December 1999). "A walk on the wild side". The Age. pp. 1, 11. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  16. "Disgraced psychologist loses new bid to practise". The Age. 19 April 2002. Archived from the original on 25 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  17. Franks, Rebecca (31 July 2018). "'A Shrink In The Clink' author Tim Watson-Munro reveals chilling insight into what makes a killer". news.com.au. Archived from the original on 23 October 2019. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  18. Watson-Munro, Tim (24 June 2017). "Tim Watson-Munro criminal psychologist cocaine addiction". The Australian. Archived from the original on 25 April 2023. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
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