docker_azza
24 Apr 2008, 20:02
2 1/4 years
http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,23592728-948,00.html
Todd Cardy
April 24, 2008 03:33pm
THE man who shot dead Bunbury teenager Lawrence Dix over a $100 drug debt was jailed today for a minimum of two years and three months.
Outside court, Mr Dix’s distraught parents slammed the sentence, with his mother Annette declaring that "life is cheap in this town”.
Supreme Court justice Ralph Simmonds sentenced Jack Benjamin Hall, 20, for the manslaughter of Mr Dix, 19, who died in the lounge room of his home in the Bunbury suburb of Dalleyup from a single gunshot wound to the chest on April 1 last year.
His two younger brothers, then aged 13 and 15, witnessed the shooting and attempted in vain to save his life.
Justice Simmonds fixed a term of six and years five months’ jail, which he cut by a third to four years and three months, under the WA’s truth in sentencing legislation.
He backdated the sentence to April last year, giving credit for time in custody.
Hall will be eligible for release on parole from July next year.
Justice Simmonds said he conceded that the shooting of Mr Dix was ``not a willed act" by Hall, who had gone to the house with friends to demand $100 over a drug debt.
He described as ``appalling’’ the actions that lead to Mr Dix’s death.
The court was told Hall shot Mr Dix with a bolt-action 0.22 calibre rifle from the back seat of a car, while another man argued with the teenager on the front lawn.
``There is nothing to support that you intended to kill or indeed harm anyone including Lawrence Dix,’’ Justice Simmonds told the court.
Hall had told police that while he had the gun, which he had taken out of the car’s boot, he did not make a conscious decision to shoot and had only wanted to scare Mr Dix in handing over the money to his friend, the court heard.
Hall later said he had only heard a ``ping’’ before Mr Dix fled inside the house, telling his brother to run.
Justice Simmonds said that despite Hall’s drug-affected state – he had only six hours sleep in the three days before the killing in an amphetamine-fuelled binge – he understood his surroundings and should have been able to control his actions.
He said it was ``gravely dangerous and severely reprehensible’’ to aim a gun at a house.
Justice Simmonds gave credit for Hall’s guilty plea, remorse and prospects for rehabilitation, noting that he had undertaken a variety of programs while in custody including those for drug and alcohol abuse.
Hall, dressed in a black suit and shirt, took a deep breath as he was lead out of the dock and back into custody.
Mrs Dix walked out of court hand-in-hand with her husband Steve, telling waiting reporters that: "life is cheap in this town today.’’
Mr Dix said: ``I hoped for two miracles today.
"The first was my son would come to court - and that’s not going to happen,’’ he said.
"The other miracle might have been that the punishment fit the crime.
``This boy will spend only 15 months in jail for murdering our son - how fair is that?"
Mrs Dix, asked whether the sentence was fair, said: "I don’t really care but something a little bit more than 15 months.
"He has destroyed our family. He has ruined what we had and we had a beautiful, beautiful family.
"My kids won't even be over counselling by the time he's out. Happy Birthday for his 22nd or his 23rd birthday, my son is dead."
Hall’s uncle, Peter Lewis, read a statement on his nephew’s behalf, which told of his profound remorse for actions that lead to ``an accidental death’’.
``His infinite sympathy, and indeed the sympathy from Jack’s family and loved ones, goes to the Dix family on their tragic loss,’’ Mr Lewis said.
``Words cannot express our sorrow.
``From the onset of this tragedy, Jack has wanted to plead guilty to manslaughter and has been willing to face the consequences of such actions.
Mr Lewis said Mr Dix’s death would be Hall’s ``cross to bear’’ and he hoped that others would learn from his mistakes.
In February, a Supreme Court jury failed to reach a verdict on a charge of murder after they were told that Hall was one of four men who went to the house to confront Mr Dix over the drug debt.
During the four-day trial, the court was told Hall had been affected by a cocktail of amphetamines, marijuana and alcohol.
Last month, Hall entered a plea of guilty to manslaughter, in a deal with the Director of Public Prosecutions.
In sentencing submissions earlier this week, Hall said he was ``truly sorry’’ for his actions.
http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,23592728-948,00.html
Todd Cardy
April 24, 2008 03:33pm
THE man who shot dead Bunbury teenager Lawrence Dix over a $100 drug debt was jailed today for a minimum of two years and three months.
Outside court, Mr Dix’s distraught parents slammed the sentence, with his mother Annette declaring that "life is cheap in this town”.
Supreme Court justice Ralph Simmonds sentenced Jack Benjamin Hall, 20, for the manslaughter of Mr Dix, 19, who died in the lounge room of his home in the Bunbury suburb of Dalleyup from a single gunshot wound to the chest on April 1 last year.
His two younger brothers, then aged 13 and 15, witnessed the shooting and attempted in vain to save his life.
Justice Simmonds fixed a term of six and years five months’ jail, which he cut by a third to four years and three months, under the WA’s truth in sentencing legislation.
He backdated the sentence to April last year, giving credit for time in custody.
Hall will be eligible for release on parole from July next year.
Justice Simmonds said he conceded that the shooting of Mr Dix was ``not a willed act" by Hall, who had gone to the house with friends to demand $100 over a drug debt.
He described as ``appalling’’ the actions that lead to Mr Dix’s death.
The court was told Hall shot Mr Dix with a bolt-action 0.22 calibre rifle from the back seat of a car, while another man argued with the teenager on the front lawn.
``There is nothing to support that you intended to kill or indeed harm anyone including Lawrence Dix,’’ Justice Simmonds told the court.
Hall had told police that while he had the gun, which he had taken out of the car’s boot, he did not make a conscious decision to shoot and had only wanted to scare Mr Dix in handing over the money to his friend, the court heard.
Hall later said he had only heard a ``ping’’ before Mr Dix fled inside the house, telling his brother to run.
Justice Simmonds said that despite Hall’s drug-affected state – he had only six hours sleep in the three days before the killing in an amphetamine-fuelled binge – he understood his surroundings and should have been able to control his actions.
He said it was ``gravely dangerous and severely reprehensible’’ to aim a gun at a house.
Justice Simmonds gave credit for Hall’s guilty plea, remorse and prospects for rehabilitation, noting that he had undertaken a variety of programs while in custody including those for drug and alcohol abuse.
Hall, dressed in a black suit and shirt, took a deep breath as he was lead out of the dock and back into custody.
Mrs Dix walked out of court hand-in-hand with her husband Steve, telling waiting reporters that: "life is cheap in this town today.’’
Mr Dix said: ``I hoped for two miracles today.
"The first was my son would come to court - and that’s not going to happen,’’ he said.
"The other miracle might have been that the punishment fit the crime.
``This boy will spend only 15 months in jail for murdering our son - how fair is that?"
Mrs Dix, asked whether the sentence was fair, said: "I don’t really care but something a little bit more than 15 months.
"He has destroyed our family. He has ruined what we had and we had a beautiful, beautiful family.
"My kids won't even be over counselling by the time he's out. Happy Birthday for his 22nd or his 23rd birthday, my son is dead."
Hall’s uncle, Peter Lewis, read a statement on his nephew’s behalf, which told of his profound remorse for actions that lead to ``an accidental death’’.
``His infinite sympathy, and indeed the sympathy from Jack’s family and loved ones, goes to the Dix family on their tragic loss,’’ Mr Lewis said.
``Words cannot express our sorrow.
``From the onset of this tragedy, Jack has wanted to plead guilty to manslaughter and has been willing to face the consequences of such actions.
Mr Lewis said Mr Dix’s death would be Hall’s ``cross to bear’’ and he hoped that others would learn from his mistakes.
In February, a Supreme Court jury failed to reach a verdict on a charge of murder after they were told that Hall was one of four men who went to the house to confront Mr Dix over the drug debt.
During the four-day trial, the court was told Hall had been affected by a cocktail of amphetamines, marijuana and alcohol.
Last month, Hall entered a plea of guilty to manslaughter, in a deal with the Director of Public Prosecutions.
In sentencing submissions earlier this week, Hall said he was ``truly sorry’’ for his actions.