Granny Basher Gets Light Sentence (Australia)

Judge gives teen who bashed Victorian gran a second chance

Gran bashed, left unconscious in pool of blood
Judge says offender is "worth a chance"
Victim says: "He took my freedom away."

A TEENAGER who bashed a 75-year-old great-grandmother in her bed has avoided jail because a Victorian judge thought he was too skinny and "worth a chance".

Judge David Parsons described Ashley Wayne Brooks' attack on Barbara Durea as sickening. But he said Brooks, 19, was a disadvantaged young Aborigine whose chances of rehabilitation were reasonably good. Judge Parsons said because of his youth and slight build, Brooks would not fare well in an adult prison. "I think you're worth a chance. You haven't really had much of a chance to date." Brooks had pleaded guilty in the County Court to five charges including aggravated burglary and intentionally causing serious injury, after breaking into Barbara Durea's Housing Ministry flat in Traralgon on March 17 last year.

Mrs Durea, who now lives in a nursing home, last night said she felt the legal system had failed her. She said she was still seeing doctors for back, neck and arm problems and suffered tremendous pain. "I was a fit and agile person before this and since it happened I've gone downhill fast," Mrs Durea said. "I jump out of my skin every time someone comes behind me. I never used to be like this, he took my freedom away.

"I know he's a young lad but he could have just robbed me, he didn't have to bash me. I was sound asleep." Brooks was drunk when he broke into Mrs Durea's flat to steal money for more alcohol, took $60 from her handbag and left her lying unconscious in a pool of blood. She eventually managed to phone her daughter and was flown to the Royal Melbourne Hospital, where she was placed in a coma for 12 days. The attack left Mrs Durea with a dislocated jaw, a broken nose and bruising to her face and body. Judge Parsons said Brooks bashed Mrs Durea unconscious so she would not recognise him. "Your victim has suffered greatly as a result of your actions, both physically and emotionally," he said. Judge Parsons said Brooks, whose girlfriend is expecting their first child, was illiterate and effectively homeless. "In your short life you have had few, if any, chances to separate yourself from a violent and troubled life."

Judge Parsons sentenced Brooks to a two-year youth justice centre order, where he would have access to education and gain the skills to try to change his life.

SOURCE: newscom

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My heart "bleeds for the teen basher". The light sentence in this and similar cases, outraged the wider community. The basher get a second chance! The victim did not have that luxury.

If the excuse for the light sentencing is that the basher "... have had few chances to ....", then many criminals in jail now, should be freed? There was no need to bash the victim after robbing her! More importantly, other teens may take this as a great way of getting looked after by the government and given free education.

No, we do not want the "eye for an eye" approach; but at the same time we do not want the punishment to be just a "slap on the wrist."