The mother of a murder victim lambasts the legal process that masquerades as a justice system

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Another ‘Life’ (?) Sentence Handed Down

The mother of a murder victim lambasts the legal process that masquerades as a justice system

“Once again, our deluded system called ‘Justice’ has failed the victims of crime – Judge Venning has handed down what could only be described as a ‘discount warehouse’ sentence in respect of Brad Callaghan.

This bizarre and horrendous crime and it’s never ending repercussions will live with those involved forever, yet our pathetic ‘Justice’ system thinks 11 years non-parole for Carmen Thomas’ murder and 6 years for perverting the course of justice to be served concurrently WITH A 20% DISCOUNT for early pleas / time in Remand / previous good record / remorse shown etc., is an acceptable sentence???? What a bloody joke and just typical of an ailing and pathetic Justice (?) system which needs a damn good overhaul!!

When a human life has been taken and EVIDENCE IS FACTUAL, there should be NO DISCOUNTS!!!!!!
Carmen was never given a 20% discount on being given the choice to live, yet after such an abhorrent crime, we see ‘DISCOUNTS’ given to Callaghan – seems like our supposed Justice System is bordering on a legal arm of the Red Shed!

Eleven years non-parole for murder plus 6 years for perverting the course of justice – very little comparison in time is there, so one would ask what price is a life??? The family of Helen Meads too, could very well ask the same question of our Justice System – as could the numerous other families who have been maligned by “soft sentences”.

We are well aware that judges are governed by a ‘criteria’ on sentencing and the like, however it is well overdue that a serious Justice system overhaul is given – it is well overdue for Judges to rise up and dispute certain rulings, rather than just ‘go by the book, because it’s the Law’,
Laws CAN be changed and need to be changed and…….quickly!

Possibly if Law changes could be implemented as quickly as Parliamentary Salaries are increased AND BACKDATED, rather than the current long drawn-out process of submissions / Select Committees etc, and then MAYBE 2 years down the track a Law change of sorts is affected, our Justice System just may start to operate efficiently. It surely doesn’t take a rocket scientist to wonder just why the process is so drawn out – or is it just something else put into the ‘Too Hard’ file rather than cause ripples to the Legal Fraternity?????

Questions that need to be asked of those in Glass Towers in High Places implementing these laws:

- - Have YOU personally lost a son, daughter, wife, husband, partner, mother, father, sister brother to homicide?

- - Would you be content with living with the emotional stress of loosing this family member 24/7 for 18 months and sometimes longer, waiting for the case to come to trial then to re-live it all again as the gruesome details come forth day by day as the Trial progresses? Then of course the process continues a month or so later with sentencing and again when Appeals are forthcoming. Non-parole sentences then usually give a few years ‘grace’ before the Parole process commences, so this brief callous act of the actual murder becomes a never-ending emotional and stressful endurance for the secondary victims – namely family/friends, who are desperately trying to move forward just a little with their own lives – lives that have been changed forever.

I personally think that if these questions were put to those supposedly responsible to implement Law-Change, one would be fairly certain of a ‘next to nil’ head count, otherwise our current laws would not be as they presently stand.

Brad Callaghan has really done everyone involved a small favour – he has pleaded guilty BEFORE going to trial – family and friends of Carmen Thomas and not forgetting Callaghan’s family were spared having to sit through a Trial and to relive the gruesome details / lies / questionable statements / dirty laundry etc., which would have been hauled out and bandied around between Counsels daily.

I do speak from experience – our son too, was a victim of a bizarre and gruesome homicide just over 2 yrs ago, yet with length of time getting to Trial (17 months), a gruelling daily appearance in Court for over 6 weeks,
Sentencing a month later and appeals still to come has truly taken its toll.
Under the current “system”, will one EVER be given the slightest opportunity to move forward???? Not likely!!!!!”

Faye Bishop
Mother of Dean Stuart Browne – murdered 21/01/2010

ENDS

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