Life imprisonment was the longest sentence available for cold-blooded, execution-style killer Jack-Harrison Vincent Sadler, Justice Robert Pearce said in sentencing.
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However, he did not impose the "term of his natural life" sentence, despite the abhorrent circumstances of the murder and the disposal of Jake Anderson-Brettner's body.
Sadler was sentenced to a head sentence of 32 years' jail with a non-parole period of 20 years. Justice Pearce said that the intentional taking of a human life required a very long sentence as vindication of the victim's life.
But he said Sadler had no previous demonstrated propensity for violence and was not incapable of rehabilitation. He said it was a matter for the Parole Board on whether Sadler received parole after 20 years.
Research of Tasmanian sentencing by lawyer Joseph Petersen examined 22 murder cases between 2008 to 2016. Mr Petersen found the mean sentence for murder to be 22 years and four months and the minimum sentence was 18 years with a 10 year non-parole period.
There were five double murders with minimum term of 32 years and a maximum of 48 years.
The most recent term of his natural life sentence was in December 2020 when Justice Michael Brett sentenced Shannon Duffy the murder of Jarrod Leigh Turner.
Duffy, who received an 18-year non parole period, shot his friend in the head with a shotgun when he was urinating beside a country road and left him for dead.
"I am of the opinion that this case does fall within the worst category of murder. It was a planned intentional and cold blooded killing committed by a person with a demonstrated propensity to engage in violent criminal conduct," Justice Brett said.
Offenders who are sentenced to life in prison without parole stay in prison until they die.
In 2009 Mark John Adams was jailed for the term of his natural life with no parole for his second murder. Both were stabbings of woman committed in 1986 and 2007.
SADLER RELATED NEWS
- DAY 1 | The Crown presents its case against Jack Sadler
- DAY 2 | Jack Sadler 'lied' about seeing alleged victim
- DAY 3 | Accused murderer asked witness to cut deceased's toes off
- DAY 4 | Police found gun at accused murderer's home '
- DAY 5 | 'I heard someone saying 'please man don't, please man stop'
- DAY 6 | Accused was angry, told girlfriend not to tell police 'about the Jeep'
- DAY 7 | Man died quickly from lethal shots
- DAY 8 | Accused murderer 'happy to spend life in jail so long family is safe'
- DAY 9 | Focus on accused murderer's DNA as jury set to retire
Kalangadoo man Stephen Standage was sentenced to 48 years' jail with a non-parole period of 24 years for the murders of Ronald Jarvis in 1992 and John Thorn in 2006.
"I am quite satisfied that these were both pre-meditated cold blooded murders of people who trusted you, and that they were committed for financial gain. They were therefore among the worst types of murder," Justice Stephen Estcourt said.
Chief Justice Alan Blow sentenced Mark Anthony Mason to prison for the term of his natural life with a non parole period of 17-and-a-half-years for the murder of a woman and causing grievous bodily harm to another.
"This was a case of domestic violence in which a defenceless woman was deliberately killed because of sexual jealousy. It also involved a pointless attack on the murdered woman's friend, resulting in life-threatening injuries and the infliction of permanent disabilities," he said.
Chief Justice Blow also sentenced Darren Michael Dobson to the term of his natural life with a 14-year non-parole period for the murder of Jodi Eaton at Gage Brook near Hobart.
"His tendency to commit serious crimes of violence against women and his callous behaviour in hiding and disposing of the body during the 48 hours after the killing do place this case in the worst category of murder cases," Chief Justice Blow said.
Justice Pearce jailed Marco Daniel Rusterholz to 45 years' jail with a non-parole period of 25 years for the murders of Janine Hallam and Joshua Newman in 2015 in Ravenswood.
"These murders are most serious of examples of the crime. The murder of Miss Hallam was a pre-meditated and cold blooded execution. I am not satisfied that the murder of Mr Newman was planned. He happened to be present and was intentionally killed in a brutal and callous fashion," Justice Pearce said.
He also jailed William Adair Rothwell and Jacob Michael Brennan to 26 years' jail for the murder of Billy Ray Waters with a non parole period of 15 years saying it was a planned and intentional killing which was a betrayal and Mr Water's friendship.
"The carrying out of the murder involved extreme, cruel and prolonged violence, Mr Waters was subjected to suffering. The attack and then the fatal wound were inflicted when he was pleading for help. He was shot without mercy," Justice Pearce said.
"Both men took steps to conceal the murder. Mr Water's body was dragged into the bush and left hidden. "It was a crude attempt but it was almost two weeks before his body was found."
In 2004 Justice Blow sentenced John Frederick Duggan for the term of his natural life and ordered that he not be eligible for parole for 23 years for the murder of a 79-year-old man near Hobart. His co-accused Christopher John Watt got 32 years' jail with a non-parole period of 20 years.
"This was one of the worst types of murder. It involved the invasion of a citizen's home by three aggressive and drunken men who were intent on robbing him and willing to inflict very serious violence if he resisted," he said.
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