Teen gets 20 years' for killing
2002-08-30 12:49
Sydney - A teenager who stabbed a three-year-old girl through the heart in a murder that sent shock waves through Australia has been sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment.
The murderer, whose identity was not released, was just 13 years old when, in January last year, he snatched the sleeping girl from her bed and killed her before dumping her body in a patch of grass.
He pleaded guilty in February. Prosecutors have not released the victim's identity.
He is one of the youngest people ever convicted of murder in
Australia.
Sentencing him in the New South Wales state supreme court,
Judge James Wood said he should serve a minimum of 10 years.
The judge described the slaying as "exceedingly disturbing" and said it had a devastating effect on the girl's family.
Judge Wood said the murderer told police he broke into the girl's home about 200km north of Sydney to steal computer
games and decided to kidnap her for ransom, but could not explain
why he acted the way he did.
The girl's family released a statement outside court saying the sentencing was one step toward healing the trauma and stress
brought on by the loss of the child.
"We... express our dismay that the values of our society and
community can provide an environment that fosters violence and
selfish behavior, and which allows individuals to place so little
value on life," they said. - Sapa-AP
- SAPA