NSW: Jail sentences over bashing death challenged by locals

AAP General News (Australia)
12-10-2007
NSW: Jail sentences over bashing death challenged by locals

By Vincent Morello

SYDNEY, Dec 10 AAP - Residents of Griffith are dismayed at the leniency of jail sentences
given to two boys over a bashing death in the NSW Riverina town, the local state MP says.

Nationals MP Adrian Piccoli said today he would write to NSW Attorney-General John
Hatzistergos, asking him to request a review of manslaughter sentences given to the 16-year-olds
who pleaded guilty to the unprovoked street bashing of the 17-year-old boy.

The two boys, who can be known only as CK and TS, were sentenced to a maximum of six
years on Friday by Supreme Court Justice Megan Latham for attacking AF at 3am on January
1 this year.

CK received a slightly longer non-parole period of four years in recognition of his
instigating role and with time already served, will be eligible for release in January
2011.

TS, who has no criminal history and was assessed as having better rehabilitation prospects,
was sentenced to a non-parole period of three years and six months to expire in July 2010.

Mr Piccoli said today many Griffith residents were particularly angry at the non-parole
periods handed down to the two teenagers.

"People are particularly annoyed about it because there had, in the lead-up to that
event, been half a dozen fairly serious assaults all along the same lines," he said.

A spokesman for Mr Hatzistergos said Mr Piccoli's request would be forwarded to the
Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for review, and Mr Hatzistergos would then make
a decision based on the DPP's advice.

Opposition justice spokesman and former deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Greg
Smith said the maximum penalty for manslaughter of 25 years does not come into play, even
in the most serious cases.

"The fact is they've killed someone, and so far as the manslaughter sentences go, they
weren't at the bottom of the range and they certainly weren't at the top," Mr Smith said.

"But manslaughter sentences vary so much and it's very unusual for anyone to get more
than 10 years."

AAP vpm/was/cjh/bwl

KEYWORD: GRIFFITH

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.