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Original Source
http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=77&ContentID=112764
Truth-in-sentencing laws scrapped
11th December 2008, 17:00 WST
Western Australian judges will soon no longer be forced to reduce jail sentences by a third after State Parliament today scrapped the controversial truth-in-sentencing laws.
The Liberal Party have adhered to a promise they made during the State election campaign to scrap the truth-in-sentencing laws, introduced by Shadow Attorney-General Jim McGinty in 2003, within their first 100 days in government and before Parliament adjourned for the summer break.
The new legislation offers judges the option of maximum sentences for the first time since the 1960s.
Attorney-General Christian Porter said while he was unhappy with having to include a recent Opposition amendment to the new law, he conceded it was necessary in order to scrap the truth-in-sentencing legislation before the Christmas break.
“What they’re (the Opposition) trying to do is save a bit of face and be part of the solution after having been the problem for five years,” Mr Porter said.
“What the amendment says is that judges should be able to impose up to the maximum.
“Now, I am confident that by getting rid of the one-third discount they can do that in any event.
“It really does pollute what was a rather simple and elegant legislation, but I’ve got no choice but to accept it.”
The new law follows outrage after a WA Supreme Court judge recently sentenced the man who killed Bill Rowe with a cricket bat on a Geraldton beach last Christmas to five years in prison.
After the sentencing, Mr Porter conceded Mr Rowe’s widow Ellen must be devastated by the sentence, which could see Mathew Roy McDonald walk free from jail in less than three years after the judge chose to sentence him to just over one-third of the maximum prison term allowed by law.
The new bill will have one commencement date, which means that from that particular date, everyone sentenced in the State will be sentenced under the new regime, including appeals, no matter what their lead-up to sentencing was.
It is expected the new law will be in place sometime in January.
PERTH
JAYNE RICKARD
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Original Source
http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=9&ContentID=112253
Sentencing debate just goes round and round
9th December 2008, 15:00 WST
The sentencing debate in WA is a never-ending merry-go-round ride that no one enjoys. The latest cycle has been sparked by community outrage over the lenient sentence handed out to a repeat offender who killed farmer Bill Rowe by striking him with his own cricket bat in front of his family on Christmas Day.
That such a brutal killer could be free in less than three years is simply horrifying to anyone interested in the concept of justice.
paul.murray@wanews.com.au
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Original Source
http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=77&ContentID=111235
Robbed of her husband, faith
3rd December 2008, 7:00 WST
The man who killed Ellen Rowe’s husband could be free to resume a normal life in less than three years. But for Mrs Rowe and her family, the horrific punishment dealt to them by one thug will last a lifetime, she said last night.
PHILIPPA PERRY
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Original Source:
http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/lesbian-murderers-to-be-separated-in-jail-20081124-6f0r.html?
Lesbian murderers to be separated in jail
November 24, 2008 - 9:40AM
It could take weeks to split up the murderous lesbian lovers who are defying the wishes of a Supreme Court judge by spending time in prison together, WA's Attorney-General Christian Porter has admitted.
In March, Judge Peter Blaxell sentenced 21-year-old Jessica Stasinowsky and 19-year-old Valerie Parashumti to life in prison for the wilful murder of teenager Stacey Mitchell.
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Original Source:
http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,24656312-5017005,00.html
View Responses To Original Source:
http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/comments/0,21590,24656312-5017005,00.html
Victims call for harder jail time
Article from: PerthNow
Joe Spagnolo, political reporter
November 15, 2008 06:00pm
VICTIMS of crime will lobby the State Government to make jail life harder and stop inmates filling their hours playing shoot'em-up video games.
The Homicide Victims Support Group say they're sick of hearing about inmates having it too easy.
The group intends meeting with Attorney-General Christian Porter, who is also the Minister for Corrective Services, to push for a review of cushy comforts in WA jails.
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http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,24656955-5017004,00.html
More inmates allowed out early
Article from:
Todd Cardy, court reporter
November 15, 2008 06:00pm
NEARLY four out of five prisoners who applied or became eligible to leave jail early are allowed back into the community, new statistics show.
A total of 2323 convicted criminals did not serve their maximum sentence behind bars in the 2007-08 financial year, up from 1937 the year before, the Prisoners Review Board annual report reveals.
The 80 per cent release approval rate for eligible prisoners is a jump on the 70 per cent recorded in 2006-07.
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http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,24564955-29277,00.html
Crime victims to be allowed to suggest sentences in SA
AAP
October 28, 2008 02:18pm
VICTIMS of crime in South Australia will get the right to suggest sentences under changes to laws proposed by the State Government.
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