Plea to Parole Board as Caroline Reed Robertson who killed teenager Rachel Barber may get out early Elizabeth Barber with a photo of her murdered daughter Rachel Barber. Picture: Lucy Swinstead Source: Sunday Herald Sun A SADISTIC killer who strangled a teenager to death in a bizarre attempt to assume her identity could be back on the streets within weeks. Caroline Reed Robertson was jailed for 20 years in November 2000 over the murder of 15-year old Rachel Barber, but could be released as early as August 10 after serving her minimum sentence of 14 1/2 years. Rachel's mother Elizabeth Barber said she wrote to Parole Board general manager David Provan last week asking the board to deny Robertson's parole. "I asked him to be very, very careful in light of the recent tragedies and media coverage of the Parole Board," she said. Mrs Barber said she hoped her daughter's killer might be forced to serve up to 18 years in prison. We don't want Caroline to become a parolee that reoffends. No one would want that," she said. I would like to see Caroline kept in for a few more years. She'd be 33 or 34 and hopefully those few more years will make a difference. Rachel was lured to Robertson's Prahran flat with the promise of money for taking part in a secret psychological survey. The then 21-year old drugged and murdered Rachel before placing her body in a wardrobe where it remained for two days. She then buried Robertson in a shallow grave at her father's Kilmore property. The body was found 12 days later after Robertson was interviewed by police and confessed to the killing. At her sentencing, Justice Frank Vincent told Robertson she was filled with hatred and a burning envy when she strangled Rachel, a child she once babysat. The Supreme Court heard Robertson had a bizarre notion that after killing Rachel she would in some way assume her identity. Justice Vincent said Robertson's sense of self-hatred and envy was so strong she was prepared to kill to achieve an "unreal dream." Rachel's shocking murder has been the subject of a book and a movie starring Guy Pearce, which could be released in Australia shortly. Mrs Barber said the looming release date had forced her to leave her job and had caused her family great anxiety. "I've just not functioned this year," she said. It is a very dark cloud hanging over us and the only thing I can really hope for is that the Parole Board is being really careful. The Parole Board is yet to make a decision over Robertson's parole, which has upset Rachel's mother. "I think it is incredible that it is so close to her earliest possible release date and they supposedly have not made a decision yet," she said. Mrs Barber said she accepted Robertson would be released sooner or later, but was afraid she would not be properly monitored. "It really is a no win situation," she said. If she's released we just hope she lives a quiet life somewhere.