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Sentencing for Criminal Offences Arising from the Death of a Child

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Sentencing for Criminal Offences Arising from the Death of a Child i Sentencing for criminal offences arising from the death of a child Final report October 2018 ii Warning to readers This report contains subject matter that may be distressing to readers. Explicit material describing fatal offences against children, drawn from sentencing remarks, is included in this report. If you need to talk to someone, support is available: • Lifeline Australia: 13 11 14 • Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800 • Victim Assist Queensland: 1300 546 587 (business hours) • MensLine Australia: 1300 78 99 78 For information and assistance about child safety issues, please contact • Queensland Family & Child Commission: 3900 6000 (business hours) Sentencing for criminal offences arising from the death of a child: Final report Published by Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council, October 2018 © Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council 2018 This final report is available for download from the Council’s website: www.sentencingcouncil.qld.gov.au This final report is licensed by Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) 4.0 International licence. CC BY licence summary statement In essence, you are free to copy, communicate and adapt this annual report, as long as you attribute the work to Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 Content from this final report should be attributed as — Sentencing for criminal offences arising from the death of a child: Final report, Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council, October 2018. Disclaimer The content of this final report is for the purpose of promoting discussion only and does not represent Queensland Government policy. While all reasonable care has been taken in the preparation of this final report, no responsibility or liability is assumed for any errors or omissions or any loss, damage or injury, financial or otherwise, suffered by any person acting or relying on information contained in or omitted from this publication. This final report follows the Melbourne University Law Review Association Inc, Australian Guide to Legal Citation (3rd ed., 2010) and reflects the law as at 1 October 2018. Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council is established by section 198 of the Penalties and Sentences Act 1992 (Qld). The Council provides independent research and advice, seeks public views and promotes community understanding of sentencing matters. The Council’s functions, detailed in section 199 of the Act, include to: • inform the community about sentencing through research and education; • engage with Queenslanders to understand their views on sentencing; and • advise the Attorney-General on matters relating to sentencing, at the Attorney-General’s request. Further information Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council GPO Box 2360, Brisbane Qld 4001 Tel: (07) 3224 7375 Email: [email protected] Sentencing for criminal offences arising from the death of a child homicide — final report iii 31 October 2018 The Honourable Yvette D’Ath Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Leader of the House GPO Box 149 Brisbane Qld 4001 Dear Attorney-General I am pleased to provide the Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council’s, Sentencing for Criminal Offences Arising from the Death of a Child: Final Report. This final report addresses the Terms of Reference you referred to the Council on 26 October 2017. Yours sincerely John Robertson Chair Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council Sentencing for criminal offences arising from the death of a child homicide — final report iv Sentencing for criminal offences arising from the death of a child homicide — final report v Contents List of figures .................................................................................................................. viii List of tables ..................................................................................................................... ix Contributors ..................................................................................................................... xi Preface ........................................................................................................................... xiii Acknowledgments.......................................................................................................... xvi Abbreviations ................................................................................................................ xvii Glossary ........................................................................................................................ xviii Executive summary ...................................................................................................... xxiv Advice and Recommendations ................................................................................. xxxviii Chapter 1 — Introduction ................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Terms of Reference ............................................................................................................................ 1 1.2 The Council’s approach to the Terms of Reference .................................................................. 2 Chapter 2 — The nature and extent of child homicide ................................................... 6 2.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 6 2.2 National and international research findings ................................................................................ 6 2.3 Child homicide research ................................................................................................................... 6 2.4 Child homicide offences .................................................................................................................... 9 2.5 Child homicide victims..................................................................................................................... 11 2.6 Child homicide offenders ................................................................................................................ 15 2.7 Child homicide in Queensland ....................................................................................................... 22 2.8 Conclusion .......................................................................................................................................... 24 Chapter 3 — Child homicide offences ........................................................................... 25 3.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 25 3.2 Murder and manslaughter ............................................................................................................... 25 3.3 Associated offences .......................................................................................................................... 32 3.4 Conclusion .......................................................................................................................................... 36 Chapter 4 — Sentencing process and framework ......................................................... 38 4.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 38 4.2 Sentencing hearing ............................................................................................................................ 38 4.3 Sentencing process ........................................................................................................................... 38 4.4 Sentencing purposes ......................................................................................................................... 40 4.5 Sentencing factors ............................................................................................................................. 49 4.6 Aggravating and mitigating factors ................................................................................................ 54 4.7 Sentencing principles in case law ................................................................................................... 65 Sentencing for criminal offences arising from the death of a child homicide — final report vi 4.8 Conclusion .......................................................................................................................................... 67 Chapter 5 — Current sentencing practices for homicide in Queensland ...................... 68 5.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 68 5.2 Methodology ...................................................................................................................................... 68 5.3 Maximum penalties ........................................................................................................................... 68 5.4 Penalties and parole.......................................................................................................................... 69 5.5 Sentencing outcomes for homicide offenders ............................................................................ 74 5.6 Sentencing approach for manslaughter .......................................................................................
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