Summarising sentences from the Trial Division of the Supreme Court of Victoria
Please find below some recent sentence summaries including the charges, length of the sentence and links to full sentencing remarks.
On 8 September 2023, Stuart Lindsay Heron was sentenced on a charge of murder by Justice Michael Croucher of the Supreme Court of Victoria.
SENTENCE SUMMARY
On 14 March 2023, Stuart Heron pleaded guilty to the murder of Nicholas Cameron.
On 8 September 2023, Justice Croucher sentenced Mr Heron to 22 years’ imprisonment with a non-parole period of 15 years. Justice Croucher declared that Mr Heron had served 791 days of the sentence by way of pre-sentence detention.
When handing down the sentence, Justice Croucher said:
”I have found it more difficult than usual to arrive at what I consider to be a just and appropriate sentence in this particular case. Objectively, Mr Heron’s crime is dreadful and disturbing, and deserving of heavy condemnation and condign punishment. Yet he is, in essence, a good person who is terribly troubled at the horror of what he has done, and wishes to take responsibility for his crime.”
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NOTE: This summary is necessarily incomplete. It is not intended as a substitute for the Court’s reasons or to be used in any later consideration of the Court’s reasons. The only authoritative pronouncement of the Court’s reasons and conclusions is that contained in the full reasons for sentence.
On 8 September 2023, Shannon Jeffrey was sentenced on a charge of manslaughter by Justice Michael Croucher of the Supreme Court of Victoria.
SENTENCE SUMMARY
On 5 July 2023, Shannon Jeffrey pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Kobie Parfitt.
On 8 September 2023, Justice Croucher sentenced Ms Jeffrey to 10 years’ imprisonment with a non-parole period of 7 years. Justice Croucher declared that Ms Jeffrey had served 748 days of the sentence by way of pre-sentence detention.
When handing down the sentence, Justice Croucher said:
”After the killing, [Ms Jeffrey] had oodles of time to reflect on her actions and to choose to do the decent thing thereafter. Thus, she might have come forward and explained what she had done and where she had dumped Ms Parfitt’s body. This might have gone some way to lessening the family’s suffering. But she chose instead to do nothing…”
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NOTE: This summary is necessarily incomplete. It is not intended as a substitute for the Court’s reasons or to be used in any later consideration of the Court’s reasons. The only authoritative pronouncement of the Court’s reasons and conclusions is that contained in the full reasons for sentence.
On 5 September 2023, Jesse Tovey was sentenced on a charge of manslaughter by Justice Michael Croucher of the Supreme Court of Victoria.
SENTENCE SUMMARY
Jesse Tovey pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of his brother, Joshua Tovey.
On 5 September 2023, Justice Croucher sentenced Mr Tovey to 8 years and 3 months’ imprisonment with a non-parole period of 5 years. Justice Croucher declared that Mr Tovey had served 861 days of the sentence by way of pre-sentence detention.
When handing down the sentence, Justice Croucher said:
“…whatever passed between them in those crucial moments, Jesse Tovey is distraught at his brother’s death. Further, on his own admission, he is criminally responsible for that terrible outcome. In the eyes of some, and in his own mind, he may well have to bear the mark of Cain for life.”
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NOTE: This summary is necessarily incomplete. It is not intended as a substitute for the Court’s reasons or to be used in any later consideration of the Court’s reasons. The only authoritative pronouncement of the Court’s reasons and conclusions is that contained in the full reasons for sentence.
On 30 August 2023, Zoran Pandilovski was sentenced on a charge of murder by Justice Christopher Beale of the Supreme Court of Victoria.
SENTENCE SUMMARY
On 17 April 2023, Zoran Pandilovski pleaded guilty to the murder of his former wife, Elaine Pandilovski.
On 30 August 2023, Justice Beale sentenced Mr Pandilovski to 24 years’ imprisonment with a non-parole period of 17 years. Justice Beale declared that Mr Pandilovski had served 1141 days of the sentence by way of pre-sentence detention.
When handing down the sentence, Justice Beale said:
“Elaine was 44 at the time of her death. The way she died would have been terrifying. Not only did you cut short her life, but you have also visited great suffering and loss on her loved ones. Their mental and physical health have been damaged by your crime.”
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NOTE: This summary is necessarily incomplete. It is not intended as a substitute for the Court’s reasons or to be used in any later consideration of the Court’s reasons. The only authoritative pronouncement of the Court’s reasons and conclusions is that contained in the full reasons for sentence.
Listen to the audio of the sentencing.
On 29 August 2023, Klay Holland was sentenced on a charge of rape by Justice Christopher Beale of the Supreme Court of Victoria.
SENTENCE SUMMARY
On 7 March 2023, following a trial by jury, Klay Holland was found not guilty of the manslaughter of Shane Cox, but guilty of the rape of Shane Cox.
On 29 August 2023, Justice Beale sentenced Mr Holland to 8 years’ imprisonment with a non-parole period of 4 years and 10 months. Justice Beale declared that Mr Holland had served 858 days of the sentence by way of presentence detention.
When handing down the sentence, Justice Beale said:
“Your rape of Mr Cox was a callous, degrading and humiliating act of retribution.”
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NOTE: This summary is necessarily incomplete. It is not intended as a substitute for the Court’s reasons or to be used in any later consideration of the Court’s reasons. The only authoritative pronouncement of the Court’s reasons and conclusions is that contained in the full reasons for sentence.
On 17 August 2023, Corey Smart, Brayden Smart and Abraham Abas were each sentenced on a charge of manslaughter by Justice Jane Dixon of the Supreme Court of Victoria.
SENTENCE SUMMARY
On 30 May 2023, Corey Smart, Brayden Smart and Abraham Abas each pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Nicholas Lee Henry.
On 17 August 2023, Justice Jane Dixon sentenced:
- Corey Smart to 8 years and 6 months’ imprisonment with a non-parole period of 5 years;
- Brayden Smart to 7 years and 6 months’ imprisonment with a non-parole period of 4 years and six months; and
- Abraham Abas to 7 years and 6 months’ imprisonment with a non-parole period of 4 years and six months.
When handing down the sentence, Justice Dixon said:
“Whilst manslaughter is an offence that can give rise to a wide range of factual circumstances, the grievous loss of a young man’s life by an unlawful and dangerous stabbing is a terrible thing, not just for his family and friends, but for the community as a whole.”
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NOTE: This summary is necessarily incomplete. It is not intended as a substitute for the Court’s reasons or to be used in any later consideration of the Court’s reasons. The only authoritative pronouncement of the Court’s reasons and conclusions is that contained in the full reasons for sentence.
On 10 August 2023, Joshua Rider and Aaron Ong were each sentenced on a charge of murder by Justice Christopher Beale of the Supreme Court of Victoria.
SENTENCE SUMMARY
On 9 November 2023, Joshua Rider pleaded guilty to the murder of Paul Virgona.
On 5 December 2022, following a trial by jury, Aaron Ong was found guilty of the murder of Paul Virgona.
On 10 August 2023, Justice Beale sentenced:
- Mr Rider to 30 years’ imprisonment with a non-parole period of 21 years; and
- Mr Ong to 35 years’ imprisonment with a non-parole period of 24 years and six months.
When handing down the sentence, Justice Beale said:
“The impact of your actions has been horrendous for Mr Virgona and his family. An innocent man aged 46 has had his life cut short.”
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NOTE: This summary is necessarily incomplete. It is not intended as a substitute for the Court’s reasons or to be used in any later consideration of the Court’s reasons. The only authoritative pronouncement of the Court’s reasons and conclusions is that contained in the full reasons for sentence.
On 27 July 2023, Dael John Newman was sentenced on a charge of murder and a charge of causing injury recklessly by Justice Jane Dixon of the Supreme Court of Victoria.
SENTENCE SUMMARY
On 16 March 2023, Dael John Newman pleaded guilty to the murder of David Gaskell and to having caused injury recklessly to Karen Lyons.
On 27 July 2023, Justice Jane Dixon sentenced Mr Newman to:
- 20 years and 6 months’ imprisonment for murder; and
- 12 months' imprisonment for causing injury recklessly, with six months to be served cumulatively.
The total effective sentence was 21 years’ imprisonment. A non-parole period of 16 years was fixed.
Justice Dixon declared Mr Newman had served 480 days of the sentence by way of pre-sentence detention.
When handing down the sentence, Justice Dixon said:
“The sentence I will impose on you reflects the gravity of the crime of murder, involving as it does, the loss of a human life.”
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NOTE: This summary is necessarily incomplete. It is not intended as a substitute for the Court’s reasons or to be used in any later consideration of the Court’s reasons. The only authoritative pronouncement of the Court’s reasons and conclusions is that contained in the full reasons for sentence.
On 1 June 2023, Rebecca Payne was sentenced on a charge of murder by Justice Rita Incerti of the Supreme Court of Victoria.
Sentence summary
On 15 March 2023, following a trial by jury, Rebecca Payne was found guilty of the murder of her husband Noel Payne.
On 1 June 2023, Justice Incerti sentenced Ms Payne to 16 years’ imprisonment with a non-parole period of 10 years. Justice Incerti declared that Ms Payne had served 1000 days of the sentence by way of pre-sentence detention.
When handing down the sentence, Justice Incerti said:
“I regard this as an unusual case and the sentence I will impose needs to reflect the circumstances. This is a case that calls out loudly for the exercise of the discretion of mercy, to reflect the underlying sense of humanity which guides proper sentencing. I think that an element of mercy is due to you because of the circumstances in which you offended.”
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NOTE: This summary is necessarily incomplete. It is not intended as a substitute for the Court’s reasons or to be used in any later consideration of the Court’s reasons. The only authoritative pronouncement of the Court’s reasons and conclusions is that contained in the full reasons for the sentence.