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Manifestly inadequate sentence for horrific manslaughter

Manifestly inadequate sentence for horrific manslaughter

Sensible Sentencing joins with the victim's ex-wife in being shocked at the sentences handed down to the killers of Terry Smith, who was doused with petrol and set alight by two violent thugs, each with long records of violent offending.

“We accept that manslaughter was probably the appropriate charge, and understand that manslaughters can fall on a pretty wide continuum of culpability” said Sensible Sentencing founder Garth Mc Vicar today.

“But surely sentences of less than six years – with minimum non-parole periods of two years or so - is manifestly inadequate in all the circumstances of this particular case” said McVicar.

“This is not a case of a drunken brawl going wrong, where the victim fractured his skull on a table as he fell. These two mongrels doused this poor man with petrol before taunting him with totally unsubstantiated claims of his alleged sexual offending, before one of them set him alight” said McVicar.

“This is also not a case of two men who were otherwise of good character becoming involved in a situation which escalated out of control. These two took a can of petrol to confront the victim, and then doused him with it. Between them they have over 100 previous convictions, many of them for serious violence,” McVicar said.

“One offender supposedly has only ‘borderline cognitive ability’ which I suppose means he is not very bright. So what? How bright do you need to be to know that flicking a lighter near a person soaked in petrol is likely to lead to the victim catching fire?”

“We join Mr Smith’s family in calling upon the Crown to appeal this manifestly inadequate sentence. This man died a horrible and protracted death because of these two. A couple of years in jail for that is surely not justice” said McVicar.

ENDS

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