IbnAlAawam
Junior Member
Marrying from prison - over the phone
TWO Super Max inmates who converted to Islam married Muslim women using a three-way telephone hook-up involving the prisoner, his bride and an imam.
Guy Staines, a convicted murderer and former jackaroo, was converted to Islam by the Super Max ringleader Bassam Hamzy.
Soon after, he began an illicit relationship with a female prison psychologist whom he converted to Islam.
She was forced to resign last year when their relationship was discovered.
They then married over the phone. Staines called the woman from the Super Max and an imam joined them on a party line, where they swapped wedding vows according to the Koran.
Although the marriage has no status under NSW law, it is recognised by Muslims.
Another Super Max inmate to marry over the phone was Peter Buchanan, an Aborigine who was also converted by Hamzy.
Hamzy arranged contact between Buchanan and a Muslim woman who was a single mother.
He provided them with sums of money totalling about $600.
After their telephone wedding, Buchanan confessed to his new wife that he was a convicted rapist.
Buchanan was released from jail on parole last year after completing his 13-year sentence.