New kill law will bring longer jail terms, parliament told

LEGISLATION prompted by the family of Mildura White Ribbon campaigner Karen Belej, who was shot and killed in 2016, will ensure the most serious crimes of manslaughter receive more appropriate sentences, Victorian Parliament has been told.

Ms Belej, 31, was shot and killed when Brandon Leigh Osborn, with whom she had a relationship, pointed a .357 Magnum handgun loaded with a single bullet close to her head and pulled the trigger.

Osborn, who was initially charged with murder but had the charge downgraded to manslaughter under a plea bargain by the Director of Public Prosecutions, was sentenced to a maximum nine years’ jail with a minimum of six on the manslaughter charge.

The new “homicide by firearm” offence will have a maximum penalty of 25 years’ imprisonment – and a standard sentence of 13 years.

Under further government changes, legislation will also be introduced to increase the maximum penalty for manslaughter from 20 to 25 years’ imprisonment.

Labor Member for Sydenham Natalie Hutchins told parliament this week Ms Belej’s family and friends were shocked and disappointed at the outcome.

“We cannot address the pain of the families who have lost loved ones, but we do hope that these reforms will bring some measure of comfort — knowing that future offenders will receive more appropriate sentences,” Ms Hutchins said.

“The perpetrator, under existing manslaughter legislation before these changes come into effect, was sentenced to only nine years and two months in prison,” she said.

“Karen’s brother Chris felt let down, saying it had been a pretty tough day and on the whole it had been pretty tough since Karen was taken away from their family for no reason.

“We have to deliver justice to these families.

“We have to stop these sorts of murders from happening or perpetrators from thinking that they can get away with it.”

Liberal Member for Caulfield David Southwick said Ms Belej’s family had pleaded with the then Attorney-General to look at having the laws changed.

“I know that the previous Member for Mildura Peter Crisp has been advocating for some time on this particular case and trying to bring in these additional laws,” Mr Southwick said.

“In my role as shadow minister for police I meet with some of these families on a regular basis and am aware of the struggles they go through.

“They are constantly saying that we have a legal system in Victoria and not a justice system and that we need to move more to a justice and fairer system.

“We need to ensure that the courts uphold the intent of these and see that the community sentiment around these laws is upheld when judges are handing down these decisions.”