Daniel Morcombe jury retires

[bluecat*dancing]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-03-12/daniel-morcombe-murder-judge-winds-up-summary-to-jury/5314956

"The jury in the murder trial of the man accused of killing Queensland teenager Daniel Morcombe has retired to consider its verdict.

Daniel was abducted and murdered on the Sunshine Coast in 2003 and his remains were found in nearby bushland in 2011.

Brett Peter Cowan, 44, has pleaded not guilty to murder, indecent treatment of a child, and interfering with a corpse."

[polksaladallie]

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@bluecat*dancing wrote:

Fantastic news! I hope that this jerk is jailed for life with no parole.

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A life sentence for him is 15 years.  So, it won't be for life.

[polksaladallie]

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@Anonymous wrote:
Yep ..on all 3 charges
Hope the family gets some closure now !

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There is no such thing as closure.  How can there be?

[*pepe]

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@polksaladallie wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:
Yep ..on all 3 charges
Hope the family gets some closure now !

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There is no such thing as closure.  How can there be?

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they will never get their son back but they now know what happened to him and that his murderer is being pumished and out of society, i'd say that is a form of closure.

[azureline**]

I think someone? said he can only get 20 years maximum? surely that can't be right.

[polksaladallie]

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@azureline** wrote:

I think someone? said he can only get 20 years maximum? surely that can't be right.

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A legal person just said on TV that at the time of the offence a life sentence was 15 years.  It is now 20 years.  So it will be 15 years for him if that is what the judge says (so said this legal person).

[azureline**]

So, in Qld we don't have the option for never to be released?

[polksaladallie]

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@azureline** wrote:

So, in Qld we don't have the option for never to be released?

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I don't know.  That's what a life sentence sounds like, but obviously it isn't.

[azureline**]

Queensland

Anyone who commits murder, attempted murder or manslaughter can be sentenced to life in prison. However, courts can decide on a shorter prison term.

Murder—also called homicide—is the wilful killing of a person either intentionally or with reckless indifference to life. However, it does not include    dangerous driving causing death—the unlawful killing of a person as a result of dangerous or negligent driving without intent to kill. This is a different    offence and has a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison.

If a person has a previous murder conviction or has been found guilty of multiple murders the minimum sentence is 30 years in prison.

If a person knowingly murders a police officer the minimum sentence is 25 years in prison.

[polksaladallie]

Well!  A police officer's life is worth more than a thirteen year old boy's.  Good to know.

[cherry*135]

Is there a different sentence for murdering a child in QLD? (25yrs?). Might be now, but not when this crime was committed?