- Jun 28, 2000
- 1,772
- 58
- AFL Club
- Richmond
- Other Teams
- Dallas Cowboys, Tottenham
At last a decent sentence given in Australia as opposed to the normal slap on the wrist. 55 years should give him some time to think about things.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2002/08/item20020815173149_1.htm
Gang rape 'leader' sentenced to 55 years
A young Sydney man will be aged in his 60s when he can apply for parole for the gang rape of four women in Sydney almost two years ago.
A Sydney courtroom was cleared by police as the rapist's family reacted angrily to the 55-year prison sentence imposed on the 20-year-old Sydney man.
In dramatic scenes inside the New South Wales District Court family and friends of the 20-year-old convicted rapist shrieked, cried and collapsed as Judge Michael Finnane read out his decision to impose the maximum jail term allowable.
He imposed a non-parole period of 40 years, ensuring the man will spend most of his life in prison for raping four young women in three separate group attacks in south-western Sydney in August 2000.
Judge Finnane said the prisoner was a menace to civilised society, a bully and a coward who had led a gang of brutal rapists, some of whom have never been caught.
In condemning the rapists for showing no remorse or contrition and treating the case as a joke, Judge Finnane also praised the courage of the young women in the face of their gang attacks and for their bravery for bringing their rapists to justice.
One of the rape victims has expressed her joy at the sentence.
"I'm happy, I'm really happy with the time. I've got the next 40 years to just have a blast," one of the women said.
Another of the young victims said she saw "pure evil" when she looked her attacker in the eyes in court.
Sentence
New South Wales Attorney General Bob Debus says the sentence is in line with community expectations.
He says if it sets a new benchmark for the crime of gang rape, so be it.
"The judge has made very clear that he believes that he's actually responding to the needs of justice and to the expectations of the community.
"If that in turn means that sentences for this particular kind of heinous crime are going up, well then that's the way it's got to be."
However, the Law Council of Australia says the penalty is too harsh.
The council's spokesman, John North, says it will offend the families of other victims of crime whose attackers were jailed for far less time.
"We must keep a sense of proportion in our criminal justice system," he said.
"We can't lock everybody up forever or we will just turn back to the sort of society that founded Australia in the first place, with transportation and ridiculous sentences for minor crimes."
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2002/08/item20020815173149_1.htm
Gang rape 'leader' sentenced to 55 years
A young Sydney man will be aged in his 60s when he can apply for parole for the gang rape of four women in Sydney almost two years ago.
A Sydney courtroom was cleared by police as the rapist's family reacted angrily to the 55-year prison sentence imposed on the 20-year-old Sydney man.
In dramatic scenes inside the New South Wales District Court family and friends of the 20-year-old convicted rapist shrieked, cried and collapsed as Judge Michael Finnane read out his decision to impose the maximum jail term allowable.
He imposed a non-parole period of 40 years, ensuring the man will spend most of his life in prison for raping four young women in three separate group attacks in south-western Sydney in August 2000.
Judge Finnane said the prisoner was a menace to civilised society, a bully and a coward who had led a gang of brutal rapists, some of whom have never been caught.
In condemning the rapists for showing no remorse or contrition and treating the case as a joke, Judge Finnane also praised the courage of the young women in the face of their gang attacks and for their bravery for bringing their rapists to justice.
One of the rape victims has expressed her joy at the sentence.
"I'm happy, I'm really happy with the time. I've got the next 40 years to just have a blast," one of the women said.
Another of the young victims said she saw "pure evil" when she looked her attacker in the eyes in court.
Sentence
New South Wales Attorney General Bob Debus says the sentence is in line with community expectations.
He says if it sets a new benchmark for the crime of gang rape, so be it.
"The judge has made very clear that he believes that he's actually responding to the needs of justice and to the expectations of the community.
"If that in turn means that sentences for this particular kind of heinous crime are going up, well then that's the way it's got to be."
However, the Law Council of Australia says the penalty is too harsh.
The council's spokesman, John North, says it will offend the families of other victims of crime whose attackers were jailed for far less time.
"We must keep a sense of proportion in our criminal justice system," he said.
"We can't lock everybody up forever or we will just turn back to the sort of society that founded Australia in the first place, with transportation and ridiculous sentences for minor crimes."
