A MAN who pushed and killed an elderly woman in an unprovoked public attack will spend at least five years behind bars. Robert Frederick Bowden, 50, shoved 71-year-old Carmel Nettleford backwards onto New Town Road last October, inflicting catastrophic head injuries. Bowden had been seen acting angrily and aggressively before he approached the woman and suddenly pushed her from a traffic island with both hands. In sentencing Bowden to a maximum of eight years in prison, Justice Shan Tennent described the killing as a completely senseless act which had a devastating effect on Mrs Nettleford's family. Justice Tennent said the woman's untimely death had deprived a daughter-in-law and grandchildren of immeasurable ongoing support. "Your actions were completely unprovoked, the attack was on an elderly woman who was a stranger to you and the attack occurred in a public place in broad daylight," Justice Tennent said. "It was a completely unexplained, random act of violence which had terrible consequences." Justice Tennent acknowledged Bowden now regretted his actions, but said a significant sentence was required. "I accept that you now recognise how terrible your behaviour was, the consequences it has had on Mrs Nettlefold's family and the consequences it will have for you," she said. "You failed to stay and render assistance, you showed little remorse immediately and you have a significant history of offending which involves violence." Speaking outside court, Mrs Nettleford's daughter-in-law, Elly Audet, described the sentence as inadequate. "I think, given the judge's comments, five years as a minimum is probably the best we can hope for," Ms Audet said. "But that's certainly not adequate for a life, though." Ms Audet said she hoped the sentence would bring herself and her young family some closure. "Hopefully tomorrow I can wake up a bit lighter and move forward," she said.
A MAN who pushed and killed an elderly woman in an unprovoked public attack will spend at least five years behind bars.
Robert Frederick Bowden, 50, shoved 71-year-old Carmel Nettleford backwards onto New Town Road last October, inflicting catastrophic head injuries.
Bowden had been seen acting angrily and aggressively before he approached the woman and suddenly pushed her from a traffic island with both hands.
In sentencing Bowden to a maximum of eight years in prison, Justice Shan Tennent described the killing as a completely senseless act which had a devastating effect on Mrs Nettleford's family.
Justice Tennent said the woman's untimely death had deprived a daughter-in-law and grandchildren of immeasurable ongoing support.
"Your actions were completely unprovoked, the attack was on an elderly woman who was a stranger to you and the attack occurred in a public place in broad daylight," Justice Tennent said.
"It was a completely unexplained, random act of violence which had terrible consequences."
Justice Tennent acknowledged Bowden now regretted his actions, but said a significant sentence was required.
"I accept that you now recognise how terrible your behaviour was, the consequences it has had on Mrs Nettlefold's family and the consequences it will have for you," she said.
"You failed to stay and render assistance, you showed little remorse immediately and you have a significant history of offending which involves violence."
Speaking outside court, Mrs Nettleford's daughter-in-law, Elly Audet, described the sentence as inadequate.
"I think, given the judge's comments, five years as a minimum is probably the best we can hope for," Ms Audet said.
"But that's certainly not adequate for a life, though."
Ms Audet said she hoped the sentence would bring herself and her young family some closure.
"Hopefully tomorrow I can wake up a bit lighter and move forward," she said.
