Double murder guilty plea reignites sentencing discount debate
An early guilty plea by South Australian father Pawel Klosowski, who shot dead his teenage son and his son's girlfriend, has reignited debate on the state's sentencing discount laws.His early plea could make him eligible for a 40 per cent discount to his sentenceadmitted to the shooting murders of son Lukasz and Chelsea IrelandCurrent laws in SA mean a judge may apply a discount to criminal sentences of up to 40 per cent, in cases where a defendant enters an early guilty plea.
"This individual has pleaded guilty to two murders, and whilst the early nature of that plea would enliven considerations in relation to a discount, I'd be hopeful that the sentence imposed reflects the gravity of the situation," Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said today. SA Attorney-General Vickie Chapman said the opposition was responsible for delaying a change to the law.
The Director of Public Prosecutions described the sentence as "manifestly inadequate" and has launched an appeal.Ms Chapman said sentences for murder were not as badly affected by the guilty discount because of the 20-year minimum imposed by law. "Nevertheless, we as the new Government consider this to be an unacceptable discount for pleading guilty so therefore we're proposing to change it."
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